Tatarstan is embodiment of Turkish-Slavic and Islamic-Orthodox unity

In Tatarstan equilibrium is attained between its belonging to the Russian Federation and assertion of its own autonomy in different spheres, from economic to religious. Do you think that such decision, allowing to get rid of fundamental temptation, can serve as example either for other Muslim components of the Federation?

In early’90s, when Tatarstan declared state sovereignty, many were certain that we aimed following the republics of the Union to become completely independent. However Tatars live all over Russia. For them Russia is home land as well as Tatarstan. That is why our fundamental goal is to contribute to Russia’s becoming real federation, to protect rights of Tatar and other peoples. “Tatarstan model” in some sense may serve as example for Chechnya of building relationship with the centre.

Talking about culture, Tatarstan is characterised by its religious specificity being inside of more multifaceted and powerful Russian culture. Nowadays, Russia, both in terms of civilisation and culture, experiences deep crisis. What is Tatarstan’s attitude to values of Western civilisation?

There is no need proving that Tatar culture has deep Eastern roots. But the beginning of XX century saw the movement for reformation of Islam initiating, which was named Jadidism from the Arabic al-jadid (renovation). Jadids called upon to learning from Europe. At the same time, it meant striving for studying Russian culture. Since then, craving for Western culture is a characteristic of Tatars. We believe that they are not only compatible but they can also enrich each other. In 2000 Annul President’s Address we determined striving to become a region of European level as our goal. The republic manufactures hi-tech products, including planes, helicopters, lorries, complex devices, and chemical products. Our main competitors are in the West, we have to learn from them to sell our products successfully, and living standards have to correspond to those in the West.

Orthodoxy is closer to Muslim world than to Catholicism and Protestantism. Is Tatar Euroislam, the idea of which arose not so long ago, more “Eastern” or “Western”?

Today demands not opposition but unity of efforts. We attentively observe Turkey’s intention to become part of European Union. Many things depend on whether the West accepts Islam organically.