NEWS

President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated Patriarch of Moscow and All - Russia His Holiness Alexy II on Christmas holiday.

Tatarstan President is receiving more New Year's congratulatory telegrams.

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev has directed the telegram to President of the Ukraine Leonid Kuchma in connection with tragic dearth of the Ukrainian citizens in air-accident in Iran.

On December 23, the thirteenth session of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan continued its work. The basic question discussed was a bill "On the budget of the Republic of Tatarstan for 2003". President M.Shajmiev expressed a wish for the republican tax services to improve their methods of work in the beginning of the new year and get properly engaged in collection of the transport tax and excises from sale of mineral oil.

December 21, the first President of Russia Boris Yeltzin who had stayed with a short-term rest in capital of Tatarstan, left for Moscow. At the international airport "Kazan " Boris Yeltzin was seen off by President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, head of Kazan city administration Kamil Iskhakov and other officials.

On December 18, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev handed over the state awards of the Russian Federation and Republic Tatarstan to outstanding art workers, scientists and engineers.

Problems of reconstruction and restoration of cultural monuments to the 1000-anniversary of Kazan, issues of development of Turkic cultures were discussed during the meeting in the Kazan Kremlin between President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and RF Minister of culture Mikhail Shvydkoi on December 16.

On December 14, a workgroup of the RF State Committee on construction and housing-and-municipal complex (Gosstroi) led by its Chairman Nikolay Koshman visited Kazan.

On December 11, the Reefinry base complex was officially commissioned in Nizhnekamsk. President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev, Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov, other guests of honour took part in the grand ceremony.The base complex is designed to process 7 million tons of oil per year with the depth of 46%.

On December 7, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev visited the Surveying Centre of the Volga Anti-crisis Institute where inspected the activity of the surveying company "Uniform rental system". The president positively assessed the Institute's activity, which for the first half-year of 2002 became 33 in the rating of leading consulting groups of the country.