NEWS

On May 24, Kazan State Agricultural Academy celebrated its 80th anniversary. President of Tatarstan M.Shaimiev, Prime Minister R.Minnikhanov, deputy Premier - Minister of agriculture and food M.Akhmetov, Kazan Mayor K.Iskhakov, President of Tatar Science Academy M.Khasanov, rectors of Moscow and Kazan Universities other officials took part in the celebration.
The academy has prepared about 25,000 experts - agriculturists, mechanical engineers, economists and bookkeepers. It is impossible to list all graduates and faculty members of the academy who today represent the pride and glory of our republic, said Rector of the Academy J.Faizrakhmanov. It is a special institute, emphasized Mintimer Shaimiev, the agronomic faculty prepares the experts whom nobody may replace.

On May 23, Tatarstan President M.Shaimiev and Mezhregiongas director general N.Gornovsky discussed gas deliveries to the Republic of Tatarstan and joint projects on modernization of industrial enterprises.
"The declared volume of 14,5 billion cubes will be delivered to Tatarstan", said N.Gornovsky. The director general of Mezhregiongas arrived in Kazan to the regional meeting of heads of Mezhregiongas, which will sum up the results of the work for the last year and the first quarter of the current year.

The guard ship "Tatarstan" constructed at the Zelenodolsk shipyard under the order of the Russian Navy will become the leader of the Caspian fleet. It was said during today's meeting in the Kazan Kremlin between Tatarstan President M.Shaimiev and Russian rear admirals - head of the shipbuilding department Anatoly Shlemov and chairman of Sea scientific committee - assistant to the Navy Commander-in-chief for scientific work Lev Sidorenko.
The ship will leave the Zelenodolsk shipyard in the second half of July. Seeing it off along the Volga to the Caspian Sea will become a grand event both for Zelenodolsk and the Russian Navy.

Yesterday Tatarstan President M.Shaimiev received the delegation of the Russian Union of theatrical figures led by its chairman A.Kalyagin that arrived for the VII International theatrical festival of Turkic peoples "Nauruz". The President thanked visitors for the support of the festival that gains strength each year. M.Shaimiev characterized the activity of the republican theatres as progressing: the skill of actors, material base, interest of spectators are growing. Tatarstan today is a unique republic with a theatre world to be guided by, A.Kalyagin said.
The same day the Tatarstan President took part in the opening of the festival.

The dairy industry of Tatarstan celebrated its 70th anniversary. The first dairy factory in the republic started functioning in 1932.
On May 15, the President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated the Kazan dairy factory.

The Iranian masters have completed the carpets for the Kul-Sharif mosque and now they are to be transported to Kazan, Iranian Ambassador in Moscow Gholamreza Shafei said during the meeting with President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev held in the Kazan Kremlin on May 14.
The Tatarstan President believes that connections of Iran with Russia and Tatarstan should be extended.

A meeting in memory of the heroes of the Second World War was held in Kazan on May 9.
President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev said that the holiday of Victory each year becomes more solemn and unites representatives of different generations. He wished all veterans to approach in good health both the millenium of Kazan and 60-anniversary of the Victory.

President of Tatarstan M.Shaimiev congratulated all Orthodox Christians of Tatarstan on the holiday of Easter. The congratulatory telegram addressed to Archbishop of Kazan and Tatarstan Anastasy says "This holiday is both religious and national. It helps people to be kinder and more tolerant to each other".

The first important event after reconstruction took place at the Tatarstan presidential residence (former Governor's palace) on April 26. In the big reception hall (White hall), President Mintimer Shaimiev awarded its architects, builders and all those who had taken part in the restoration.
It is here, under the basement of this palace, that archeologists found the well-known coins, testifying that Kazan was founded 1000 year ago, the khan palace ensemble used to be located here, Kazan had risen from here.

On April 25, President of Tatarstan Minitmer Shaimiev took part in the first All-Russian congress of members of the Unified Russia - deputies of legislative bodies and representative bodies of local self-government. The congress agenda included one question: "On problems of members of the Unified Russia - deputies of all levels on realization of the party program and strategy ..."
Mintimer Shaimiev delivered a speech on regional aspects of a social policy of the party.