NEWS

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev conducted a meeting on the development of the Bolgar History and Architecture Museum Reserve and the State History, Architecture and Arts Museum of the Island of Sviyazhsk at the Kazan Kremlin on February 10.

February 10, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev met with Gennady Onishchenko, the Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare. The meeting took place at the Kazan Kremlin.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated first Hungarian President Arpad Goncz on his birthday.

Kazan delegation had visited London and participated in the festival “Maslenitsa”. Presentation of Sochi Olympics-2014 and the World Summer Universiade-2013 in Kazan was held as part of the festival programme.
Kazan had been presented to London’s Mayor Richard Barns. Mr Barns promised to visit the nearest Sabantuy in Kazan.
The achievement on arranging the Russian-Tatar House at London Olympics of 2012 was reached during the visit.

The Islamic revolution in Iran encouraged mobilization of the Iranian nation’s spiritual strength, which was directed to development of the national culture. Tatarstan Vice-Premier – Minister of Culture Zilya Valeyeva expressed this opinion at the conference “Islamic revolution in Iran: civilization phenomenon and its prospects” on February 9.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Russian Federation, Seyed Mahmoud Reza Sadjadi, Consul General of Iran in Kazan Reza Bagban Kondori, head of Tatarstan President’s International Relations Department, President’s advisor on foreign affairs Timur Akulov and other officials are taking part in the conference.
From the minister’s point of view, organization of the international conference in Kazan proves Tatarstan’s important role in connecting Russia with the eastern world. Tatarstan and Iran are united by centuries-old historical and cultural ties dated to the times when Tatars’ ancestors – the Volga Bulgars adopted Islam in 922.
Zilya Valeyeva reminded that the Days of Iran had been held in Kazan in 2005. Exhibitions of Iranian artists, authors were arranged in Tatarstan capital in 2008. According to head of Tatarstan Culture Ministry, Muslim Film Festival “Golden Minbar” acquired the status of a prestigious international-level forum thanks to support of Iranian cinematographers.

The first results of the Tatarstan-wide charity project aimed to increase computer literacy, launched on October 15, 2009, have been summarised.
The goal of the project is to offer senior people the opportunity to obtain skills required to operate a computer and surf the web. In 2009, a total of 6,729 pensioners completed computer courses.
Prospectively, the tested computer literacy technology is to be used to develop and implement special programmes to calculate pensions, verify public service bills and teach older people the basics of some web-based public service legal systems. The 2010 computer literacy project includes a competition for the best computer skills.

The Kama State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism in Naberezhniye Chelny will be reorganized into the Tatarstan Academy of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism. It will also be moved to Kazan.
A corresponding decision was made on agreement with the republican authorities and Russia’s Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy. Tatarstan Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism Marat Bariev informed about it at the ministry’s meeting on February 9.
“Taking into consideration agreements on construction of a new educational building with laboratories, the university will have the most modern material and technical resources. A hostel on the basis of the Universiade Village, sport facilities, services of the Sports medicine Centre will contribute to it,” Marat Bariev informed.
“I believe we have a unique opportunity to set up the best college of Russia and Europe in terms of the material and technical resources,” Marat Bariev said. “Our current task is to gather strong pedagogical staff, including specialists from Russia and foreign countries. Potential partners from Russia and foreign countries consider Kazan to have advantages in offering sport business-education.”
Marat Bariev emphasized that Russian Sport Ministry authorities supported Tatarstan plans.

Almost all Kazan Universiade-2013 sport objects are expected to be put into operation in 2010. Only four of them – the Universiade Village, a football stadium with 45 thousand seats capacity, the Water Sports Palace, and, probably, a water channel will not be completed. Tatarstan Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov informed about it at the final meeting of Tatarstan Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism in Kazan.
According to Tatarstan Government Chairman, active work is carried out for developing the Universiade-2013 sport infrastructure in Kazan. “But transport infrastructure, which requires considerable financial investments, is being developed too, thanks to efforts of our President Mintimer Shaimiev. We begin realization of serious projects in the field of transport infrastructure,” Rustam Minnikhanov informed.

Prospects of Tatarstan-Iran cooperation were discussed at the meeting of Tatarstan State Council Chairman Farid Mukhametshin and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Iran to the Russian Federation Seyed Mahmoud Reza Sadjadi on February 9.
Farid Mukhametshin expressed content with work of the Consulate General of Iran in Kazan and Consul General Reza Bagban Kondori who takes part in all significant events of the republic. Farid Mukhametshin positively assesses developing cultural contact, such as Iranian cinematographers’ traditional participation in the international film festival “Golden Minbar”.
Iran’s Ambassador to Russia, Mr Sadjadi thanked for warm welcome and said he felt homey in Kazan. According to the diplomat, in cooperation with Russia all outstanding officials of Iran wanted to visit Kazan. A good example is the visit of Iran President Seyed Mohammad Khatami to Kazan in 2001. The Iranian ambassador is convinced that the schedule of the incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s official visit to Russia will definitely include Kazan.
The Iranian diplomat pointed out the necessity of establishing contacts in education and science.

The 28th Shalyapin International Opera Festival opened in Kazan on February 8. It is devoted to the 137th birth anniversary of our fellow man, Fyodor Shalyapin.
The festival has gathered a fascinating entry-list of some 40 participants. These include prominent soloists from the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres, singers from Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, the United States, Ukraine, and Sweden.
Shalyapin Festival was founded in Kazan, the singers native town, in 1982. It is a unique event in the history of modern Russian music theatre. It is devoted to the 137th birth anniversary of our fellow man, Fyodor Shalyapin.