NEWS

January 6, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and his spouse Sakina khanum went to see Puppets’ Wedding, one of the brightest performances of the year given at the Galiasgar Kamal Tatar Drama Theatre.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated Tatarstanians on the New Year.

The Sport TV channel’s general director Vasily Kiknadze has been assigned with coordinating the preparation for the TV coverage of the Olympics 2014 in Sochi and World Summer Universiade 2013 in Kazan, told a news conference in Kazan the Tatarstan Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Minister Marat Bariev.

According to Bariev, a meeting with Vasily Kiknadze had the week before been held in Moscow. “Kiknadze has been assigned with establishing a sport TV broadcasting directorate, that will at the request of TV channels make sports-related programmes. He has been assigned with coordinating the programme of TV broadcasting from the Olympics in Sochi and Universiade in Kazan,” noted the minister. “There are many technically complex and expensive aspects. After the New Year holidays, the issues will be closely elaborated on. There are questions in regards to the terms of TV broadcasting on the Universiade venues under construction in Kazan and complying with the technical specifications the TV people have submitted.”

Some tourism companies in Tatarstan ended the critical year for the industry with a growth, told a news conference in Kazan the Tatarstan Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Minister Marat Bariev.

According to the minister, the tourism sector was expected to slump 50-70 percent. Although not all figures are yet final, and official statistics will be available in February 2010, when many Tatarstanians will return from Christmas tours, the tourist market can be said to have dropped at most 10-15 percent,” noted Bariev.

“This is evidence to the Tatarstan’s tourism industry staff’s increased proficiency. It is not coincidental that they have withstood the crisis,” the minister holds. “They invented new working techniques, itineraries, and expanded the list of services.” According to the minister, the fact that people find money to spend on recreation and health is pleasing.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev met with members of the Volleyball Club Zenit-Kazan on the occasion of their winning the Russia Cup 2009 at the Kazan Kremlin on December 29.

Tatarstan’s executives have obtained a 5-year loan from the federal budget, to renovate the Kazan’s transport infrastructure, told a Business Monday staff meeting the Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin.

According to Metshin, lengthy negotiations with the Russian Finance Ministry had resulted in 3 billion roubles, to be delivered to Kazan before the year’s end. The money is to be used to construct new thoroughfare and junctions by the time of the Universiade 2013 sporting event. Besides, the mayor said, after the New Year, Kazan expects to receive another 10 billion for similar needs.

Metro builders have begun constructing new metro tunnels in the Tatarstan’s capital. The tunnelling unit Altynchech has been solemnly launched at the Aviastroitelnaya station. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister of Tatarstan Roustam Minnikhanov and Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin.

The Kazmetrostroi construction company director Marat Rakhimov said at the meeting, the Altynchech machine would have to make 1,324 metres to the Moscovkskaya station that is planned to be located near the railway station at Vorovsky street. The second machine, Aisylu, will about one and a half months afterwards make a second tunnel. The unit is assembled, and the delay is due to some technicalities.

“On behalf of the metro building team, I would like to pledge that if we are given the opportunity and it is necessary, we are ready to fulfil the motto The Metro’s Second Section by the Time of Universiade 2013,” enhanced Marat Rakhimov. “We have devised all the schedules and prepared resources. If the financing is stable, we will fulfil the set task.”

December 28, Tatarstan State Council Chairman Farid Moukhametshin takes part in a session of the Council of Legislators – the Council for cooperation of RF Federal Assembly Council of Federation with legislative (representative) bodies of the Russian Federation subjects’ state authorities.

Before the session, the Agreement on cooperation in the federal legislative process will be signed between RF Federal Assembly Council of Federation and Tatarstan State Council. The agreement envisages joint work on introducing consolidated legislative initiatives to the Russian parliament’s lower chamber, exchange of legislative experience, etc.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev signed laws ‘On introducing amendments to the Code of the Republic of Tatarstan of administrative offences’ and ‘On approval of norms of financial expenditure for ensuring state guarantees of citizens’ rights to receive generally accessible free-of-charge pre-school, primary general, basic general, secondary (full) general education as well as additional education in comprehensive institutions of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2010’.

Kazan submitted application for bidding the right to host the 1st European Student Games in 2012. Tatarstan Minister of Youth, Sport and Tourism Marat Bariev informed about it on Monday at the press-conference on results of the Year of Sport and Healthy Lifestyle.

A decision on establishing the continental analogue of the World Universiade (Kazan will host it in 2013) – European Universiade was made last week in Vienna (Austria) at the general assembly of European University Sports Association (EUSA). Only European championships were held under EUSA aegis before. The main difference from the large-scale Universiade is competitions between universities, but not universities.