23 April 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Vsya Rossia Gains New Members
The leader of the Golos Rossii (Voice of Russia) movement, Samara Governor Konstantin Titov and the leader of the Otechestvo (Fatherland) movement, Moscow Mayor Yurii Luzhkov, have joined the Vsya Rossia (All Russia) electoral bloc, Tatarstan's Efir TV channel reported on 22 April. On the same day, during a meeting of Vsya Rossia's organizational committee, Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev stressed that the electoral bloc intended to gain a "majority in the Russian State Duma, to be able to form a new government and cooperate with the [Russian] president in building a normal civilized society, avoiding the mistakes of the past." At the meeting, Oleg Morozov, a Duma deputy from Tatarstan, was appointed the leader of the Rossiyskie Regioni faction in the State Duma as well as a coordinator of Vsya Rossia. The founding congress of Vsya Rossia will reportedly be held on 22 May.
Pakistani PM Visits Tatarstan
The delegation of Pakistani Prime Minister Mukhammed Navaz Sharif arrived in Kazan on 22 April. Upon arrival, Navaz Sharif told journalists that he "brought the respect of his people to Tatarstan." Republican media reports that among the 60 members in the delegation were the Pakistani foreign minister, the minister of health care, and the defense minister. Tatarstan's Foreign Affairs Department reported that Pakistani officials were mostly interested in purchasing Kazan-made helicopters and optics. Navaz Sharif visited the Marjani Mosque and Big Concert Hall in Kazan. On 23 April he is to meet with Tatarstan's premier, Rustam Minnikahnov, State Council chairman Farit Mukhametshin, and visit the Chamber of Trade and Industry.
Tatneft and LukOil To Hold Controling Shares In Fuel Company
Tatneft Company have given the Krasnooktyabrsky and Suncheleevsky oil deposits in Tatarstan to Russia's Central Fuel Company (CFC) in exchange for a 13 percent package of shares in CFC, Tatarinform reported. The deposits of about 50 million tons of oil are estimated to be worth some 30 million rubles at the current market price. A contract was signed within the framework of the Tatneft-LukOil agreement, endorsed by Kazan and Moscow. Tatneft and LukOil will manage the controling parcel of shares in CFC, each owning 13 percent.
Chally Mayor On Financial Difficulties
Chally Mayor Rashid Khamadeev said on 22 April that total city debt has reached 440 million rubles. State employees and pensioners of Chally are owed 210 million, while the total of loans taken by the city is 230 million rubles. Khamadeev said that half of the taxes collected for the city budget are spent on servicing its loans every month. The mayor acknowledged that the city "hoped both for assistance from the republic and the KamAZ auto works."
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi