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Tatar-Bashkir Report: June 13, 2002


13 June 2002
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Speaker Addresses Republic On Russia Day...
Tatar State Council Chairman Farid Mukhametshin addressed the people of Tatarstan on 12 June in honor of the 12th anniversary of Russia's declaration of independence, intertat.ru reported the same day (see "RFE/RL Tatar-Bashkir Report," 12 June 2002). Mukhametshin said the establishment of a democratic state started with the adoption of the declaration of state sovereignty of the Russian Federation, the anniversary of which is celebrated on 12 June. "The declaration made political and economic freedoms and human rights the main values of the new [Russian] state. Tatarstan's people have made significant contributions to democratic reforms and the improvement of the federative system in Russia. The preservation of the values declared in the document is possible only if federal relations and civic society develop in Russia and the powers of federal, regional, and local authorities are clearly shared. This is a necessary condition for strengthening social and political stability and interethnic concord in Russia," Mukhametshin said in his address.

...Publishes Book On Federative Relations
A book by State Council Chairman Mukhametshin and his adviser on political issues Georgii Isaev titled "Federative and Sociological Dimensions of the Regional Political Process" has been released by the republic's Idel-Press publishing house, intertat.ru reported on 11 June. The publication is devoted to issues of the development of regional political processes, the formation in Russia of a new type of federative relations between Russia's regions and Moscow, the peculiarities of ethnopolitical development, the strengthening of vertical power, and the formation of unified legislation. Mukhametshin defended last year a doctoral thesis on federative relations in Russia.

Tatar President To Take Part In World Bashkir Congress
Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev is due to leave for Ufa today to take part in the second World Bashkir Congress, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported on 12 June.

Businessmen Pledge $30,000 For Investigation Into Attack Against Chally TIU
Four people seriously wounded by unknown assailants at the Tatar Public Center (TIU) in Chally office on 29 May remain hospitalized, RFE/RL's Chally correspondent reported on 12 June (see "RFE/RL Tatar-Bashkir Report," 30, 31 May, and 6 June 2002). Rafis Kashapov, the leader of the TIU in Chally, has been moved from intensive care to an ordinary ward. Gabdulla Shaisultanov is still in critical condition, while Rashit Khafizov, though still hospitalized, was able to attend a meeting of the TIU in Chally on 10 June. RFE/RL's correspondent cited Nafis Kashapov, Rafis Kashapov's twin brother, as saying that a group of businessmen is ready to allocate $30,000 to pay for a nonstate investigation of the crime. Nafis Kashapov has temporarily taken over leadership of TIU in Chally.

Tatar writer and leader of the Tatar national movement Aidar Khalim told RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service on 12 June that the assault against the TIU office was part of an attempt to annihilate Tatar national organizations. He said he is sure the crime was politically motivated.

Airlines Looking Abroad To Meet Aircraft Needs
General director of Krasnoyarskie Avialinii (Krasnoyarsk Airlines) Boris Abramovich has given up on his previous idea of leasing six Kazan-produced Tu-214s and four Ulyanovsk-produced Tu-204s and is going to lease two Boeing-767s instead, tatnews.ru reported on 10 June, citing gazeta.ru. Another airline, Uralskie Avialinii (Ural Airlines), has also reconsidered its planned purchase of three Tu-214s and plans to buy only one Tu-154M instead. Tatnews.ru said it has become more difficult for Russian aircraft producers to compete with foreign manufacturers because the cost of foreign aircraft decreased since the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States. In addition, current aircraft leasing procedures in Russia are inefficient, while import duties for aircraft will soon be reduced, the agency reported.

Census Registrants To Receive Kazan-Produced Bags
The Kazan-based leather-goods company Kozhgalantereinaya Firma has completed its part of an order for leather bags that will be distributed to registrants in the October national census, Tatar-inform reported on 11 June. The company has produced 301,000 bags of the total of 408,000 needed for distribution among 65 Russian regions. The Kazan company won the 38 million-ruble ($1.2 million) order in a tender.

Teachers, Doctors Get Back Wages, Holiday Pay
The Kazan city administration has taken out a 40 million-ruble ($1.3 million) credit to pay secondary-school teachers and doctors wage arrears and holiday allowances, "Vechernyaya Kazan" daily reported on 11 June. Mayor Kamil Iskhakov said on 10 June that city authorities plan to pay in full all employees receiving salaries from the state budget.

Russia's Muslims Celebrate Adoption Of Islam By Volga Bulgaria
Muslims from a number of Russian regions travelled to Bolgar, the ancient capital of Volga Bulgaria on the territory of Tatarstan, to take part in the 12 June celebrations to mark the 1,113th anniversary of the adoption of Islam by Volga Bulgaria, islam.ru reported on 11 June. This anniversary has been celebrated annually since 1989.

Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova

DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Ufa Celebrates Anniversary, Russia Day, Opening Of World Bashkir Congress
Festivities were held throughout the Bashkir capital, Ufa, on 12 June, celebrating both the 428th anniversary of the founding of the city, as well as the 12th anniversary of Russia's declaration of independence, RFE/RL's Ufa correspondent reported the same day. The presence of a large number of delegates in Ufa for the 14-15 June World Bashkir Congress added to the festivities.

Many Ufa residents interviewed by RFE/RL on 12 June were unaware of what was being celebrated, saying they thought the festivities were simply for the Bashkir congress.

Floods Force Northwest Residents From Homes
According to the Bashkir Emergencies Ministry, floods hit several regions in the northwest of Bashkortostan on 12 June, washing out 10 bridges and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes, Bashkir state radio reported the same day. The floods were the result of heavy rains over the past few days. No casualties have been reported, as emergency services were able to evacuate residents in time.

Congress Delegates To Witness Traditional Bashkir Wedding
The Bashkir government has made arrangements for a traditional Bashkir wedding to be held today at the Bashkir Academic Drama Theater so that delegates to the second World Bashkir Congress can see traditional Bashkir marriage rites being performed, Bashinform reported today.

Ildar Shamgulov, a businessman from the Kugerchen region of Bashkortostan, is to wed Nailya Irnazarova, a postgraduate student from Bashkir State University. Bashinform quoted them as saying that they, "are very happy that their matrimony is to be held during the big event of the second World Bashkir Congress."

Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
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