NEWS

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”.

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev takes part in Republican New Year tree party held in the Basket-hall on December 27. The event gathered together gifted children, leader of children’s and youth public organisations, excellent pupils and inmates of children’s homes and boarding schools.

Yesterday, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan signed a decree announcing the coming year of 2005 to be The Year of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan in the republic. This recognises the historical role of the Tatarstan capital in the development of Russian and Tatarstan statehood. The RT Cabinet of Ministers and Kazan city Administration have to ensure the social and economic development of the capital during the realisation of measures on preparation and carrying out the anniversary celebrations in Kazan.

Issues of Tatarstan-Azerbaijan cooperation and prospects of future joint projects in the field of culture were discussed today in the Kazan Kremlin by Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and UN Goodwill Ambassador for Oral and Musical Traditions Mekhriban Alieva. Mekhriban Alieva was designated as UN Goodwill Ambassador in September 2004. In 1995, she became President of the Foundation of “Friends of Azerbaijan culture” and a year later founded a magazine in the Azerbaijan, English and Russian languages to promote the culture of Azerbaijan in the country and abroad.

On December 10, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev visited Aznakaevo, Tatarstan to take part in the opening ceremony of the Ice Palace “Altyn Alka”. The President’s agenda also included visits to Aznakaevsky plant “Neftemash” and public objects.

Security measures to be implemented in summer 2005 during celebrations of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan were discussed by President Shaimiev and Russian Interior Troops Commander-in-Chief Colonel-General Nikolai Rogozhkin at the meeting in the Kazan Kremlin on December 7.