NEWS

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev congratulated the residents of the republic professing orthodoxy, with the Christmas holiday and wished all good luck, well-being and long years of life.

President of Tatarstan M.Shaimiev hopes that the Kazan Mother of God icon kept in Vatican will be returned to Kazan before the celebration of the 1000-anniversary of Kazan.
In his interview with Interfax he emphasized that such a gesture on the part of the Pope would please all Orthodox believers of the country, especially those who live in Tatarstan.

"This year we managed to realize all planned social programs and maintained production growth, we had a record agricultural harvest", M.Shaimiev told the Interfax. In his opinion, the main achievement of 2001 is that the republic could keep political stability, interethnic peace and solidarity despite the world events.

December 28, Kazan Kremlin, the President of Republic Tatarstan M.Shaimiev entrusted the State awards and premiums of Republic Tatarstan, and also the Premiums of the Government of the Russian Federation to the figures of science and arts of the republic.
According to the President of Republic Tatarstan M. Shaimiev, present year comes to an end as a whole satisfactorily. Today, at the rewarding ceremony, have got together those who bring a special contribution to development of our republic. It is good, that there are such people which go ahead and recognized as the locomotives in their branch, an example for all others, said the head of Tatarstan.

On December 27, RT President Mintimer Shaimiev met Ruslan Nigmatullin - the best goalkeeper of Russia, who has recently signed a contract with Italian "Verona". Ruslan is from Tatarstan - he came to Kazan to see his parents. M.Shaimiev complimented Ruslan who does not forget his roots and tells interviewers about his native land, about Kazan. In President's opinion, the world is now open and there are no borders for talents - the main thing is to remember one's origins.

On December 27, President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev brake a bottle of champagne against the Kama bridge span.

Students themselves should control both universities and dormitories. Such a wish was stated by President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev at the opening of the refurbished student's dorm of Kazan State Medical University.

President of Tatarstan M.Shaimiev informed about the results of his meeting with head of "Gazprom" Alexei Miller. M.Shaimiev also commented upon the recent decision of President Putin to liquidate the RF Clemency Commission.

December 19, Moscow, the session of RF State Council was held on which the concept of development small and middle business was discussed.
President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev took part in the session of RF State Council.

The president of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev considers, that middle and small business in Russia requires support of the state. "Today it is necessary to engage in the most serious way in de-bureaucratization in sphere of business in order to help people to work in this sphere. On this way there are many artificial obstacles that essentially constrain development of middle and small business", - told M. Shaimiev in interview to "Interfax". And he specified, bureaucratic obstacles are incorporated in working statutory acts.