NEWS

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.

In all magnificence, revived and renewed, the Kazan Kremlin should appear before the residents and visitors of Kazan to a 1000-anniversary of Tatarstan capital. However, prior to this it is necessary to work over the shape of ancient ensemble. The working meeting carried out December 6 by the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev was devoted to the problems of reconstruction of the Kazan Kremlin.

President of Tatarstan considers acceptance by the State Duma in the first reading of the amendments to the federal Law on the status of deputies of the State Duma and Council of Federation a legislative arbitrariness. He declared this on December 4 in his interview with “Interfax”.

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev sent Chairman of Tatarstan Muslim Religious Board mufti Gusman hazrat Iskhakov the telegram in which he warmly congratulated all Moslems of Tatarstan on holiday Uraza Bairam.