Mintimer Shaimiev meets Turkish Ambassador to Russia Hüseyin Diriöz

On May 18, in the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan State Counsellor, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Revival Regional Foundation Mintimer Shaimiev met Turkish Ambassador to Russia Hüseyin Diriöz.

Diriöz was appointed Turkish Ambassador in October last year and visited Tatarstan as a member of the Turkish delegation led by Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim in December. This time he arrived in Kazan to take part in the ninth International Economic Summit "Russia – the Islamic World: KazanSummit 2017".

Before the meeting Shaimiev told the guest about projects on preservation of historical and cultural heritage being implemented with the assistance of the Revival Foundation. He described in details the results of the seven-year activity of the Foundation for the revival of the ancient city of Bolgar and the island town of Sviyazhsk and about new projects such as the construction of the Bolgar Islamic Academy and the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

Turkish Ambassador stressed that the inclusion of the Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex in UNESCO World Heritage List is of great importance for the Turkic world. "This is our common history, our common heritage that has become a world heritage due to your work," he said and promised to visit the ancient Bolgar during one of his next trips to Tatarstan.

Diriöz announced of his readiness to cooperate to organize the work of the Bolgar Islamic Academy. The meeting also discussed further cooperation between Tatarstan and Turkey as part of the development of all-round ties between Russia and Turkey.

Tatarstan Minister of Informatization and Communication Roman Shaykhutdinov, General Consul of Turkey in Kazan Turhan Dilmach, First Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Moscow Murat Dikmen took part in the meeting.