22 January 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Press Ministry Explains Seized Newspaper Affair
Tatarstan's Ministry of Press, TV-Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communications on 19 January explained why it had ordered the seizure of the 18 January edition of "Kazanskoye Vremya." Aydar Salimullin, the chief of the state inspection on freedom of press and mass information, said that the newspaper had issued two separate editions in different volume and content but with the printing data. Because of that and after a warning, he directed the interior ministry to seize the issue. Moscow's "Kommersant" reported on 19 January that the issue seized contained numerous articles promoting the former Chally mayor and Russian deputy ministry of agriculture Rafgat Altinbayev who intended to join the presidential race in Tatarstan.
Putin Chairs Kazan Anniversary Meeting
Russian president Vladimir Putin chaired the meeting of State Commission on 1000th anniversary of the founding of Kazan on 19 January. In his opening speech Putin said that the anniversary celebrations should become an event of international scale and Russian national holiday. Kazan mayor Kamil Iskhakov told the meeting that the city had managed to obtain the loans from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and Islamic Development Bank to prepare for the celebrations.
Parliament Commission To Sue Cabinet
The State Council Commission on social issues, children and youth affairs plans to file suit against the Tatarstan government in the republic�s Constitution Court over the distribution of powers concerning development, Tatarinform agency reported on 22 January. According to the republic constitution, the Cabinet of Ministers is to elaborate the state programs for social and economic development and State Council is to endorse them. But during 1999 and 2000, the Cabinet issued a number of large-scale programs concerning the social and economic life without checking with the State Council, the suit says.
Tatarstan To Supply Iraq With Machinery
Tatneft oil company will resume supplying Tatarstan-produced tires, excavators and tracktors to Iraq according to the agreements reached during the visit of republic government delegation to Baghdad on 14-16 January. The company's general director Shamil Takhautdinov reportedly told the Iraqi representatives that further consultations were necessary with Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry for preparing the project for Iraqi oil extraction without violating the UN sanctions. Tatneft reportedly donate $10,000 to a medical rehabilitation center for wounded Iraqi children, Tatarinform agency reported on 22 January.
By Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Harmonization Process to Resume
The chief federal inspector in Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov said on 19 January in Ufa that he was now directly involved in "the adjustment of Bashkortostan's legislation to the federal one [as well as] staff rearrangements in local agencies of federal authorities." He noted that the Board of Russian Justice Ministry was already operating in Ufa but that the reforming of the local branches of the federal Interior Ministry, Security Service and Tax Police had yet to begin.
Bankruptcy Official Positive about Federal Law
Republic State Property Committee Rishat Galikayev said on 22 January that "the federal Bankruptcy Act brought into action has caused the upsurge of law suits considered by the Arbitrage Court." Galikayev, who is also an acting director of republic board on bankruptcy affairs, said that the bulk of suits had been filed against small businesses. Some 984 bankruptcy suit suits filed in the Bashkir Arbitrage courts during 2000.
Formerly Bankrupt Industries Show Growth
Industrial companies put under external management because of bankruptcies showed significant growth in 2000, the republic press reported. Among those doing so are the Ufakhimprom chemical plant, the Geofizprobor instruments factory, the Sterlitamak machinery plant, and the Iskra factory.
Rakhimov Visits Belebey Region
President Murtaza Rakhimov visited the Belebey region on 19 January, his press service reported on 22 January. He met the staff of one of the republic's largest machinery producers, the Autonormal factory, on that company's 30th anniversary.
By Iskender Nurmi