NEWS

February 15 saw a recital devoted to the 70th anniversary of the prominent Tatar singer Ilgam Shakirov taking place in the G. Kamal State Academic Theatre. President Mintimer Shaimiev, Chairman of the RT State Council Farid Mukhametshin and RT Deputy Prime Minister Zilya Valeyeva came to congratulate the singer, whose legendary name had become known a quarter of a century ago.

On February 15, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev received Commander of the Volga-Ural military district General of the Army Vladimir Boldyrev. The interlocutors discussed issues of defence of the country, a role of the Volga-Ural district in the system of the Russian defence, issues of social protection of military personnel.

Prospective directions of cooperation and ways of increasing of the trade turnover between Tatarstan and the Netherlands were in the focus at the meeting of RT President Mintimer Shaimiev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Russian Federation Tiddo Hofstee on February 15 in the Kazan Kremlin.

Prospects of development of cultural and economic cooperation of Tatarstan and Sweden were discussed on February 7 at a meeting of President of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Russian Federation H.E. Johan Molander.

Building of bridges between Tatarstan and the Kirov oblast in both literal and figurative senses was discussed at a meeting of RT President Mintimer Shaimiev and Governor of the Kirov oblast Nikolai Shaklein in the Kazan Kremlin on February 5. Mintimer Shaymiev noticed that Tatarstan and the Kirov oblast have had eternal neighbouring relations and emphasised that the economies of the regions are poorly integrated into each other. The head of the republic said that they should contribute to deepen mutual beneficial cooperation.

Prospects of development of bandy in Tatarstan were in the focus of the meeting of the President of the republic Mintimer Shaimiev and President of the International Bandy Federation and the Federation of Bandy of Russia Albert Pomortsev. After the meeting, A. Pomortsev told the press conference that an increase of authority of Kazan bandy team "Raketa" received special attention at the meeting. The team was created in 1958, and in 1996 played in the supreme league.

On January 29, in the Kazan Kremlin Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Alexei Kudrin conducted a meeting dedicated to the course of implementation of the federal law on monetisation of benefits in the Volga Federal District. President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Andrei Fursenko, heads of federal departments, and heads of six subjects of the Russian Federation took part in eh meeting.

«We are witnessing a historic event. Tatarstan did not host a world championship before», - the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev said opening the 25th World Bandy Championship held in the stadium "Rocket" in Kazan on January 30. The official ceremony of the 25th World Bandy Championship opened with a representation of teams from 11 countries.

Prospects of expansion of cooperation of Tatarstan and the United Arab Emirates, in particular in the field of supplies of products of Tatarstan military-industrial complex, were discussed on January 27 in the Kazan Kremlin at the meeting of RT President Mintimer Shaimiev and UAE Land Forces Commander, Major-General Saeed Al Romaithi.

Participants of the meeting of President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and Chairman of the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation - State King-of-Arms of the Russian Federation Mr. Georgy Vilinbakhovym became witnesses of a historic event on January 27. The President was presented with the Certificate of the inclusion of the state symbols of the Republic of Tatarstan in the State Heraldic Register of the Russian Federation. The Emblem of the Republic of Tatarstan is registered under number 377, the Flag of the Republic of Tatarstan - under number 378.