NEWS

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.

On January 25, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan M. Shaymiev visited Public Service Institute under the President of the Republic of Tatarstan. He viewed the building, lecture rooms, a public sport complex, and met with employees and students of the institute. Institute of Public Service under the RT President was founded in 2001 by the Decree of the RT President with the purpose of qualification upgrading and training of public servants.

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev has directed the congratulatory telegram to chairman of the Council of muftis of Russia, Chairman of Religious Board of Moslems of the European part of Russia, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin at the occasion of Qurban- Bairam.

January 17, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev took part in the meeting conducted by Chairman of RF Government Mikhail Fradkov. The meeting dealt with questions of implementing measures on leveling the system of social protection of citizens in conformity with differentiation of powers between bodies of the government and institutions of local government. Members of the Government of the Russian Federation and heads of federal executive authorities, responsible officers of RF President Administration, and a number of heads of subjects of the Russian Federation took part in the event .

Monday, January 17, RF Government session chaired by Mikhail Fradkov is going to be staged in Moscow. During the session, according the RF President decree the Government should discuss the situation after the Law on monetization of Soviet-era benefits was introduced and growing social tension in several regions of Russia.

Health Care and Social Development Minister of Russian Federation Mikhail Zurabov sent a letter with gratitude addressed to President of Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev for active participation taken by the Republic in arrangement of the 8th International specialised exhibition “Safety and Labour Protection - 2004”.