NEWS

The Chistopol district has great prospects for development, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev said during his visit to the district on February 10. With the commissioning of a new bridge in 2002 and construction of a modern highway to Almetyevsk, it will develop rapidly.

February 8 Kazan, RF Navy commander-in-chief, fleet admiral Vladimir Kuroedov and RT President Mintimer Shaimiev signed the protocol on the results of Navy delegation visit to a number of Tatarstan defenсе enterprises. The concrete problems and purposes both for the visited enterprises, and for the Navy commander were pointed out in the document.

On February 7, RT President Mintimer Shaimiev and delegation of the RF Navy led by Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov visited the Zelenodolsk Shipyard, examined the defense objects and industrial capacities to perform the orders by the Russian Defense Ministry. Various ship modifications for the Caspian Fleet are to be built here.

On February 7 in the Kazan Kremlin, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev received the delegation of the Russian Navy led by the Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet, Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov.

January 30, the meeting of the Russia President Vladimir Putin and Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev took place.

On January 29, Tatarstan leader Mintimer Shaimiev officially informed the RT State Election Committee about his intention to run for the presidency.

16 candidates have declared their intention to run for the presidency in the RT. Mintimer Shaimiev commented upon his decision to take part in the 2001 presidential elections.

On January 26 in Aktanyshsky district, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev made an official statement about his intention to be nominated for the post of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Close cultural contacts between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Tatarstan dated back to antiquity are especially important in the beginning of a new era - when dialogue between world cultures and civilizations becomes more active. Issues of further cooperation were discussed January 17 in the Kazan Kremlin, where Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev received the delegation of Iran.

A reception for Tatarstan and Russian journalists was held in the Tatarstan House of Journalists on January 13 to celebrate the Day of Russian Press.