16 June 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Morozov Comments On Russian Move Into Kosova
The leader of the Duma faction Rossiiskiye regiony (Russia's Regions) and Tatarstan representative Oleg Morozov said he approves of the unexpected move by Russian peacekeeping forces into Kosova. Morozov told Tatarstan Television on 14 June that "it is clear now that it was a quickly prepared and forced action. The decision apparently was taken urgently and was made at the highest level of authority." Morozov said "if the decision was not taken NATO would have realized its secret plan, according to which Russian troops would be forced out of Kosovo and [NATO] would take up [a] leading position" and present [Russia] with a fait accompli. So the action, Morozov continued, "was very correct [and] NATO was forced to agree with it. Now I think the conditions suggested by the Russian side--on equal participation [of Russian peacekeepers] and the fact that Russian forces will not be placed under NATO command in Kosovo--apparently will be implemented."
Kemerovo Governor May Run For Tatarstan Presidency
The Agency of Political News (APN) reported on 14 June that Kemerovo Oblast Governor Aman Tuleev has not ruled out the possibility of running for Tatarstan's presidency in 2000. APN cited unnamed source close to Tuleev as disclosing this news.
Investigation Of Dioxin Content In Belgian Chickens Carried Out In Kazan
Officials from Tatarstan's Veterinary Science Board and the Agriculture Ministry said on 15 June that some 1,400 kilograms of chicken imported from Belgium, France, and the Netherlands were withdrawn from shelves in three of Tatarstan's cities--Kazan, Chally, and Tuben Kama. Also, the issue of control over stock-bred products was discussed on 15 June at a press conference of the Ministers' Cabinet. There it was reported that chicken meat from 52 Russian cities suspected of containing dioxin is under investigation at the Kazan veterinary research institute. The results are expected to be available in several days. The Department of Veterinary Science of the Russian Federation will determine what course of action will be taken if food is found to be tainted with dioxin. Tatar markets do not depend very much on imported chicken, which make up just some 2-3 percent of all chicken consumed in the republic.
Heads of Muslim Educational Institutions Meet In Kazan
The rectors of Russia's Muslim schools held a conference from 15-19 June in Kazan to develop a unified program and methods for tutoring in madrasahs and Islamic universities, Tatar Television reported. The conference was organized on the initiative of Kuwait's Asian Muslim Committee and Tatarstan's Spiritual Board of Muslims. The mufti of Tatarstan, Gusman khazrat Iskhakov, told Tatar television on 15 June that "we would like to raise the teaching level of the heads of educational institutions in Muslim countries."
Number Of Psychiatric Patients In Kazan Decreases
A number of patients at the Kazan mental hospital decreased over the last decade from 3,300 to 2,300 persons, Tatar-inform reported. Tatar-inform cited an unnamed medical source as saying that the psychiatric situation has been affected by the adoption of a 1994 federal law on psychiatric aid and guarantee of human rights. Under the law, a patient must give written consent before being placed in a mental hospital. The Kazan mental hospital is reported to be the largest in Europe. During the Soviet era it was widely used to isolate political dissidents.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova