NEWS

Results of social and economic urban and rural development in Tatarstan in 2003 and plans for 2004 were discussed at the meeting of the RT Government on February 2. The meeting was attended by RT President Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime-minister Rustam Minnikhanov, Chairman of the State Council Farid Mukhametshin, and heads of district, city and town administrations.

Dear Muslims of Tatarstan!
Accept my cordial greetings on the occasion of Kurban-bairam holiday! Being one of the most honored holidays of the Muslim world, Kurban-bairam personifies high moral principles of Islam – mercy, kindness, and love to people. Sympathy to our neighbours in everyday affairs, respect for adherents of other belief, pure thoughts and pious deeds attach to this holiday a special sense, help us to be spiritually pure.

January 29, 21st plenary session of the RT State Council passed in the third final reading the RT bill “On amendments and additions to the law of the Republic of Tatarstan “On the languages of the Republic of Tatarstan” and the bill “On ratification of the State programme of the republic of Tatarstan on preservation, study and development of the languages of the Republic of Tatarstan for 2004-2013”. RT President Mintimer Shaimiev partook in the work of the session.

Prospects of joint events to be held in the framework of the oncoming celebration of Kazan’s millennium were discussed at the meeting of Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and Chairman of the Composers’ Union of Russia, President of the Russian authors’ society Vladislav Kazenin at the Kazan Kremlin on January 23.

President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev met with students and post-graduates of Tatarstan higher and special educational institutions – holders of special grants of the Republic of Tatarstan. The meeting was held in a warm atmosphere and lasted for two hours. Tatarstan President answered numerous questions on support for gifted young people, financing of scientific researches, housing problems of young families.

“As for Russia many Europeans believe the father to the east the more difficult to build relations. Kazan is situated a thousand kilometers from Moscow to the east, but as for the issues of federalism it is much closer to the west than Moscow”, Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the German Parliament Volker Ruehe came at this conclusion after the meeting with President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev in the Kazan Kremlin on January 22. The interlocutors shared their opinions on many questions raised at the meeting.

Kazan Kremlin, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev has met with deputy minister - chief of public safety service of the RF Ministry of Internal Affairs, colonel-general of militia Sergey Shadrin.
President and federal minister discussed problems of raising efficiency of divisions of the ministries of internal affairs providing public safety and first of all of the institute of local militiamen and traffic-patrol service. In this connection, the interlocutors focused on the necessity of reinforcing trust of the population to the officials of these structures and maintenance of publicity of their work.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev sent a greeting message to director of KamAZ-master team S. Yakubov and director general of OAO KamAZ S. Kogogin to congratulate the team members and all KamAZ workers on a convincing victory in one of the most prestigious world motor races. “The team of KamAZ-master once again proved its highest skill, professionalism, unity, and mutual understanding in a difficult many-days struggle on the renowned route of transcontinental supermarathon race. We know what hardest work has to be done for such success, we are grateful to the sportsmen for their courage and irrepressible striving for winning and to KamAZ workers for well-organised preparation of the team for difficult trials..."

"Kazan" mountain ski resort has been opened on January 16. It is situated 35 kilometres from the capital of Tatarstan in a picturesque site - at the merge of the Sviyaga and Volga rivers. The complex boasts of 9 slopes and trails of various degree of difficulty, 800 to 1800 meters in length. The complex will involve people in active leisure. For this purpose there is a ski station with ski hire rental, children's town, skating rink, chairlift, snowmaking. "Kazan" extras include a shop, cafe, restaurant, and apartments for two to eight persons (with bathrooms and saunas).
President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev talked at the opening.

Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev received Consul General of the Republic of Turkey Ismail Hakki Musa in the Kazan Kremlin on December 14. The Consul started his work just after Christmas holidays. Before he worked in Brussels as First Secretary, Councilor of the Permanent Representative Office of Turkey to the European Union. President and Consul marked that there are no problems in interactions of the sides, discussed prospects of development of bilateral relations between Tatarstan and Turkey.