6 December 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Central Election Committee Checks Tatarstan's Election Preparations
A delegation of the Russian Central Election Committee led by its deputy head, Valentin Vlasov, arrived in Kazan on 5 December for a three-day visit, Tatar-inform reported. The visitors will observe preparations in the republic for the Russia State Duma elections. The Russian officials will meet with the members of Tatarstan's Central Election Committee and review okrug, territorial, divisional election committees, and voting sectors. Vlasov is scheduled to meet with Tatarstan's president, Mintimer Shaimiev, State Council chairman Farid Mukhametshin, and Press and Communications Ministry head Zilya Valeeva.
Wages Arrears Reportedly Halved
Tatar Deputy Prime Minister and Economics and Industry Minister Sergei Kogogin said on 3 December that wage arrears in the republic total some 1.6 billion rubles ($60 million), roughly half as much as they were at the beginning of the year. Kogogin made his comments at an address to the ministry's board responsible for Tatarstan's 1999 industrial development and with providing consumers with fuel. Kogogin said that 91 billion rubles in industrial production is expected in Tatarstan this year, or 109 percent of last year's volume. He named the chemical, petrochemical, and machine-building branches as the leading industries in the republic, and said that main attention will be paid next year to the light industry, oil chemistry, and oil refining industries. Kogogin listed the problems experienced by industries in Tatarstan, among them a shortage of investments, the continution of barter trade, massive debt payments, wages arrears, and debt owed to the government.
Kogogin said that Tatarstan's energy system doesn't have enough resources to supply enterprises that are increasing their production. This problem is due to the decrease in gas extraction in Russia which led to the daily volume of gas daily consumed by energy company Tatenergo to be cut by 6 million cubic meters. He added that cash payments for consumed gas increased last month to 47 percent of the total.
Tatars In Bashkortostan Pledge Support To Fatherland-All Russia
The Executive Committee of Bashkortostan's Congress of Tatars pledged its support for the Fatherland-All Russia (OVR) election bloc during the 19 December poll, Tatar-inform reported on 3 December. The Committee adopted a statement that noted that the OVR is the only bloc supporting the development and strengthening of federal relations as well as proposing a draft law which regulates both the admission and secession of territorial entities into the Russian Federation. The statement said the bloc has also stated that all the languages of the peoples in Russia should be preserved and protected by the state.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova