Main holiday of the Republic of Tatarstan

Address by Mintimer Shaimiev, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan

People of Tatarstan!

I heartily congratulate you on the Day of the Republic!

Nineteen years that has passed since the Declaration of Tatarstan’s state sovereignty was adopted on August 30, 2009 was a period full of events of huge importance for our republic and its multinational people.

The Declaration fixed preparedness of the society for changes, considered interests of all Tatarstanians allowing to overcome successfully the period of social transformations. Guided by the ideas of the Declaration, we managed to revive the economy and the social sphere after the severe crisis of the 1990s, to consolidate Tatarstan’s statehood and to rectify an effective model of interaction with the federal centre.

In that new environment Tatarstan’s economy gained a dynamic growth rate. Never before it had built that much housing, gathered such big harvests and invested such means in its infrastructure. New community venues were appearing practically in each towns and settlements, the lifestyle of people changed. Constructive labour, interethnic peace and civil consent were the new foundation of the social progress of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The experiences gained over these nineteen years helps successfully face the challenges related to the financial and economic crisis. Thanks to the measures we have been taking we managed to maintain the financial system, to tackle successfully unemployment and to guarantee basic social standards. Tatarstan is successfully implementing large-scale projects and initiatives for the future ensuring the competitiveness of our economy.

In this context, of big importance is the state-run complex programme of the RT education system development till 2015 we are now working on. Science and education is a sphere which is by right called the key to social and economic leadership in the 21st century. Having chosen the innovation way of development, Tatarstan should be based on the ‘new school’ capable of generating highly-qualified, competitive human resources.

It is of principle importance that the renewal of the republic is occurring taking into account the value guidelines based on the historic and cultural heritage of our people. Spiritually full life, possibility to self-improve, desire to do good and participate in charitable activities has become of bigger significance to Tatarstanians. The Year of Sport and Healthy Lifestyle has helped to realize that health improvement of people is a state objective. Kazan’s hosting the First All-Russian Forum ‘Russia – Sport Power’ in October this year will speed up the implementation of the large-scale programme of preparation for the 23rd Summer Universiade in 2013. And this will undoubtedly allow to make a significant spurt in modernization of Kazan, to consolidate its status of a modern and open city.

Consistently led by principles of federalism, Tatarstan has been aware of all benefits of interregional and international integration processes over these years. Our experience in solving complex political, intercultural and interfaith problems arouses lively interest and wins recognition. At the same time, Tatarstan’s authority helps strengthen economic and political prestige of the Russian Federation.

Friends!

I address to you the words of gratitude for your work, patriotism and love for your native land. May peace, well-being and prosperity be in each home in the Republic of Tatarstan. Good health and a lot of happiness to you!

Happy Day of the Republic!