31 March 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatarstan's Leaders Meet With Russian Officials
Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev and the chairman of the State Council, Farid Mukhametshin, participated in a joint meeting of Russia's Federal Assembly chambers on 30 March in Moscow. The same day, Shaimiev met with recently appointed presidential administration head Aleksandr Voloshin, Minister of Economics Andrei Shapovalyants, and State Property Minister Farid Gazizullin. Several bilateral issues were discussed, Tatar television reported.
Permanent Representation of Euro-Commission To Open In Tatarstan
Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev and the head of the Euro-Commission (EC) office in Russia, Ottokar Khan, discussed the possibility of opening a permanent EC mission in Tatarstan at a meeting on 29 March in Kazan, Tatar-inform reported. The appointment of a permanent Tatar representative in Brussels was also considered. Khan invited Shaimiev to participate in a European-Russian round table due to take place in Moscow in May. It was agreed that one of the next round table meetings would be held in Kazan.
Results Of Tatarstan's State Council Elections Announced
Tatarstan's Central Electoral Commission announced on 30 March the results of elections held two days earlier for vacant State Council seats in 15 electoral districts. All of the winning candidates were the heads of local administrations and were supported by the authorities. Voting was valid in all districts and turnout was reported to be about 85 percent.
Tatarstan's Foreign Offices To Be Self-Financed
The head of Tatarstan's presidential administration, Ekzam Gubaidullin, said that the budgets for Tatarstan's representative offices in CIS and other foreign countries will be determined by the success of their financial activities. Gubaidullin made his comments in an address at the annual meeting of the republic's plenipotentiary representatives on 30 March in Kazan. The representatives were exhorted to attract investment to Tatarstan and develop economic and trade cooperation. The activities of the foreign officies will be coordinated by the newly founded Ministry of Trade and Economic Cooperation. Gubaidullin listed the level of exports to foreign markets, the growth in volume of trade, and foreign investments in Tatarstan's economy as the main indices in evaluating how effective the foreign representations are, Tatar radio and television reported.
Tatneft Discusses Cooperation With Independent Oil Companies
Tatarstan's prime minister, Rustam Minnikhanov, participated in a meeting of Tatneft's council of directors that summed up this month's activity and discussed cooperation with Tatarstan's other oil companies. He also attended a session of the leading officials from Tatneft affiliates and some independent oil companies, where the issue of improving oil extraction technologies was discussed, Tatar radio reported.
Opposition Nationalist Organization To Hold Congress
The Tatar opposition nationalist organization, the Tatar Public Center (TPC), will hold a congress on 3 April in Kazan, Tatar-inform reported. Delegates from Russia's regions and CIS countries will attend the congress, which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the organization. The agenda includes a review of TPC activity, amendments to the Center's Charter, and a discussion of the organization's future plans.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova