NEWS

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.

Opportunities for further strengthening of cooperation between Tatarstan and German oil companies were discussed on January 12 at the meeting of RT President Mintimer Shaimiev with President of Mineraloil-Rohshtoff-Handel GmbH R.Krening, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Wintershall AG M.Klain and the companyІs CEO G.Detharding.

Farit Khaidarov is appointed director general of OAO "Northwest oil-trunk pipelines". This was declared at the meeting between Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev and president of OAO "AK Transneft" Semen Vainshtok on January 12 in the Kazan Kremlin.

On January 10, Kazan Gorbunov Producation Association witnessed the event, marking the beginning of a new century for Tatarstan. This epithet belongs to Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev. For the first time in Russian aviation history, one plane has received three documents at once.

President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev commented upon Governor of Vologda oblast V.Pozgalev's statement that President Vladimir Putin prepares the enlargement of the Federation subjects and consequently there will remain no more than 50 of them.

On January 6, on the eve of the main Christian holiday - Christmas, Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev received in the Kazan Kremlin representatives of the Kazan eparchy.