6 July 2005
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Iran Seeks To Establish KamAZ Assembly Line
An Iranian delegation headed by Raksh Hodro Diesel President Mir Abolfazl Saveti arrived on 5 July in Kazan to negotiate with KamAZ a project on establishment of the automotive concern�s assembly line in Iran, Tatar-inform, intertat.ru and other news agencies reported the same day. After a meeting with the visitors, Tatar Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov ordered to provide all-round support for the project. Tatar Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Minister Khefiz Salikhov told reporters following negotiations with the delegation that assembling KamAZ trucks in Iran would be �a very good project for Tatarstan.� Sabeti said in case negotiations are successful, the assembly line can be launched in three months and up to 1,000 trucks can be produced annually on the first stage of the project. During the first five years, that volume is planned to be increased fivefold. �Good relations were established between your republic and Iran,� Sabeti said. �We hope our cooperation will develop in other directions as well.�
State Authority Bodies Face Stuff Reduction
First Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Alevtina Kudryavtseva told a briefing in the Cabinet of Ministers on 5 July that the number of state employees will be reduced by 2,711 to 6,745 in the near future, Tatar-inform, intertat.ru and other news agencies reported the same day. Kudryavtseva explained the move by introduction of local self-government. At the same time, the staff of the Tatar Culture Ministry will be increased from 39 to 87 to cover new functions that were added to the ministry, including work with foreign Tatar diasporas and development of cultural tourism. Kudryavtseva commented that state officials total 0.2 percent of Tatarstan�s population while in Moscow, their share is 0.4 percent. She added that personnel reduction won�t save budget money as the fund of salaries will be preserved in the same volume and will be used �to raise salaries to the staff.�
Days Of Tatar Youth Open In Kazan
150 delegates from Tatarstan and Russia�s regions gathered for the Days of Tatar Youth held near Kazan on 5-11 July, RFE/RL� Kazan bureau reported on 5 July. The event aims cultural and national consolidation of the Tatar youth living within and outside Tatarstan, developing business and cultural contacts and exchange of information concerning youth policy, science and education. Totally some 2,000 youth representatives from 40 regions of Russian and 10 foreign countries have attended the days during 15 years of their existence.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Prosecutors Seek Restoration Of State Control Over Fuel-And-Energy Companies
Bashkortostan�s Prosecutor�s Office has contested the decision of the Bashkir Arbitration Court under which shares of republic�s oil refineries remained in ownership of the Bashkirskii Kapital holding controlled by son of President Murtaza Rakhimov Ural, RosBalt reported on 5 July. Office representative Gulnara Bikbulatova told the news agency the same day that prosecutor�s office considers the refusal by the Bashkir Property Ministry to return stakes in oil refineries to the state ownership infringes state�s interests. The office appealed the court verdict in the Bashkir Arbitration Court�s Appeals Board. Bikbulatova also said the verdict by the Appeals Board according to which Bashkirskii Kapital maintained its control over Bashneft and Bashkirenergo will be also appealed this week in the Ural Federal District Arbitration Court. The Bashkir Proper Ministry filed lawsuits against Bashkirskii Kapital in March in the wake of President Rakhimov�s statement that the state control over republic�s fuel-and-energy sector companies should be restored. In June, however, the ministry called back its claims saying the sides reached extrajudicial solution to the issue.
Prime Minister Remains In Hospital Following Road Accident
Bashkir Prime Minister Baidavletov passed a surgical operation to fix the elbow joint fractured in a car accident, Regnum reported on 4 July, citing Baidaveltov�s assistant Telget Ebdrekhmanov. Baidavletov works with documents in the hospital and his ward was equipped with special communication devices, Ebdrekhmanov said. The Bashkir government works in its usual order under the guidance of Baidavletov, the official said.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova