NEWS

The official delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan led by President Mintimer Shaimiev spent the last day of the visit to Sweden in the southernmost region of Sweden - Skone.
After the presentation of Tatarstan, Mintimer Sahimiev told journalists that the reality surpasses all imagination and cooperation between Tatarstan and the Swedish region Skone has good prospects. He said that a working group will be created to study specific projects.

The most important event of the second day of the working visit to Sweden was the meeting of Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev with Prime Minister of Sweden Mr. Joran Persson. They discussed a broad circle of political and economic issues.

On occasion of the Muslim New Year and Kurban-bairam holiday, President of Tatarstan Minitmer Shaimiev received telegrams from the President of Egypt Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, leader of Azerbaijan Geidar Aliyev, President of Algeria Abdelaziz Buteflika, other world leaders.

On March 25, President of Tatarstan Minitmer Shaimiev on his working visit to Sweden met with Minister of trade Mr. Leif Pagrotski (Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Also participating in negotiations were Russian Ambassador N.Sadchikov, trade representative V.Spassky, second secretary of the RF Embassy A.Milyayev, all members of the official delegation of Tatarstan. President of Tatarstan also presented a speech in the Swedish Institute of international affairs. The basic motive of a speech was development of federalism and democracy in Russia, in particular Tatarstan's role in the process of federalization of Russia.

On March 25, the official delegation of Tatarstan led by President of Tatarstan Minitmer Shaimiev left for Sweden.
The President of Tatarstan is to give a speech "Russia in regional prospect" in the Swedish Institute of international affairs.

The fine arts museum presents an exhibition devoted to the 105th anniversary of the Tatar professional fine art classic - sculptor and paintor Baki Urmanche.
On March 23, it was visited by Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev. In the President's opinion, Urmanche is "the whole epoch in national art, he has left his mark not only on Tatar, but also on world art".

On March 17, a tripartite summit of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Moldavia devoted to the issues of economic cooperation took place in Odessa (Ukraine).
Presidents Vladimir Putin, Leonid Kuchma and Vladimir Voronin discussed the course of realization of "gas agreements", cooperation in the field of oil refining and power engineering. President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev and Director General of Tatneft Shafagat Takhautdinov took part in the meeting on the part of the Russian delegation.

Results of social and economic development of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2001 and prospects for 2002 were discussed at the expanded republican meeting on March 11. Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev called the meeting a beginning of realization of tasks set up in the annual Message of the RT President RT to the State Council.

On March 7 in the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev met with US Ambassador to the RF Alexander Vershbow.
The RT President told the visitor about Tatarstan's social and economic position, actively developing business, bank system, prospects of Tatarstan-American cooperation and other things.
Later in the day Alexander Vershbow met with heads of Tatarstan religious confessions. Accroding to him, Tatarstan can really serve an example of tolerance and peaceful co-existence of different ethnic groups and religious confessions for the entire world.

The best women of Tatarstan and Tatar Diaspora were met with flowers and songs on March 6 in the Big Concert Hall of Kazan. They were invited to the traditional meeting with President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev devoted to the International women's day.
Also participating in the meeting were spouse of the RT President Sakina Shaimieva and spouse of the US Ambassador in Moscow Lisa Vershbow.