Congratulatory speech by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev

Dear people of Tatarstan!

On behalf of the State Council, the Government and on my own behalf I congratulate you on the Day of the Republic.

August 30th of the year of 1990 - the day of adoption of the Declaration on state sovereignty of Tatarstan - is a historical turn that marked a new page in the development of our statehood. Constructive continuity has always been the major principle of progress for our republic. We have never denied the importance of any epoch and historical events. We are building our future, the future of our children and grandchildren on the strong foundation of the centuries-old traditions. The major political result of the last eighteen years was the establishment of constructive, trust relationship between the republic and the federal center, the regions of our country. The Republic of Tatarstan of today is one of the strongest pillars of the multinational Russian state.

The modern history of Tatarstan has shown that our multinational people has large hidden reserves of social energy and entrepreneurial spirit. We just need to provide our people with freedom of creativity, initiative, to give full play to all-sided development.

It is important that those living in big cities and in rural areas of Tatarstan vividly enjoy the result of what they do, that their lives become richer every day both materially and spiritually for this is a key task of our development.

We mark this year's Day of the Republic in the atmosphere of hallmark accomplishments. Tatarstan consistently holds leading positions in social and economic development. We achieved high rates of growth in industry and in road construction, there is very active housing construction and we gathered rich harvest.

The past years became an important stage in development of Tatarstan national culture and spirituality, education and science. The main holiday of the republic is an occasion to emphasize unity and cohesion of the people of Tatarstan once again. Inter-ethnic and inter-faith consent is a corner stone of our social life.

The decision that Kazan would host the 2013 Summer Universiade became a symbol of success and aspiration of our republic for the future. I am confident that this event will have a most positive impact on economic, cultural and sport development, will make the capital city and whole republic closer and more understandable for the international community.

The Republic of Tatarstan, relying on its accumulated potential, is more and more confidently going an innovation way of development, makes new achievements together with all Russia, all its peoples.

Dear people of Tatarstan, with all my heart I wish you good health, happiness, fruitful and initiative work for the well-being of our native Tatarstan and whole Russian Federation.