NEWS

President of the Republic of Tatarstan M.Shaimiev congratulated the people of the republic on Kurban-Bairam.

Mintimer Shaimiev supports introduction of alternative service, but considers it necessary to approach the issue carefully. "I support it for one simple reason. Today our republic successfully drafts for military service no more than 30 % of citizens subject to conscription. Others find various reasons to evade it or are exempt from conscription", he told the Interfax.

February 14, Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin carried out negotiations with Prime Minister of Canada Jean Chretien who leads the delegation of 300 Canadian politicians and businessmen on official visit to Moscow. President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev also took part in bilateral negotiations. Use of Canadian avionics and engines in helicopter production in Tatarstan was mentioned among the examples of successful bilateral cooperation.

On February 5-6, President of Tatarstan M.Shaimiev took part in the work of the Commission on differentiation of powers and competences between the federal centre and regions headed by deputy head of the Administration of the Russian President Dmitry Kozak and also carried a number of working meetings, in particular with RF Minister of Finance Alexei Kudrin, Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov.

Improvement of physical health of the rising generation in the republic has been a priority objective for Tatarstan leadership, President Shaimiev told Interfax.

January 29, the session of RT Constitutional commission, which considered the project of new edition of the Constitution of Republic Tatarstan took place.

January 29, Kazan Kremlin, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev received Troops Commander of the Volga - Ural districts, general - colonel Alexander Baranov. During a meeting A. Baranov read out the order of Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Sergey Ivanov, according to which president of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev for active participation in solving the problems of defensive industry was awarded with the nominal organic weapon.

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev received hundreds of congratulations on occasion of his 65-anniversary.
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin called Mintimer Shaimiev on January 20 to congratulate him personally.

On January 9, an exhibition "Monuments of Islamic art" from the State Hermitage collection was opened in Kazan with participation of RT President Mintimer Shaimiev and the director of the State museum "Hermitage", academician Michael Piotrovsky.

January 5, Kazan Kremlin, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev met with president of the International Federation of Russian hockey Albert Pomortzev.