5 January 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Possible Terrorist Act Averted In Kazan
The Kazan City Militia told the Tatarstan press on 4 January that they had prevented a possible terrorist act when they uncovered a gas pipe bomb in a home on 31 December before it could explode. Privolzhsky district prosecutor Farit Latipov told the reporters that the police had not yet detained any suspects. Tatarstan's Interior Ministry on 1 January began Operation Doorway to check apartment buildings for possible bombs.
HIV Infections Spread
Tatarstan newspapers reported on 5 January that the number of people in Tatarstan testing positive for HIV rose by 1,000 during the last twelve months. Most of those infected are drug addicts who have shared needles, the newspapers said.
Millennium Babies To Receive Special Bonuses
The Kazan City Administration will present the parents of 20 babies born in the first hours of the New Year in Tatarstan's capital with 5,000 rubles ($180) each, Tatarinform reported.
By Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Bashkortostan Expands Cooperation With Uzbekistan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced on 4 January that Uzbekistan was one of the top priority partners for Bashkortostan among CIS countries. While there are already 44 Uzbek companies operating in the republic, BR intends to open Uz-bash trade center in Tashkent in April, 2001. According to Bashkortostan's trade representative in Tashkent Rafik Haydarov, trade turnover drastically rose during in 2000 comparing to previous years. As the republic's light industry expects to load its capacities with raw material from Uzbekistan in future, current annual trade turnover between the partners is over USD 15 million.
Bashkir Servicemen In Chechnya Receive Greetings From Home
A Bashkortostan Interior Ministry delegation visited Chechnya to convey New Year's greetings to their colleagues who are serving there, RFE/RL reported from Ufa on 4 January. At the present time, some 120 Bashkir militia officers are serving in Gudermes and Novogroznyensky distributing aid and guarding checkpoints. Since the beginning of 1999, a total of 1000 Bashkir militia officers have served there.
Bashkir Representation In Moscow Launches Its Website
Bashkortostan's permanent representation in the Russian capital has launched a website to detail its activities. It can be found at www.bashpred.ru
21 Millennium Babies Born In Ufa
The Ufa city administration announced on 4 January that 21 babies had arrived in the first hours after the new year.
By Iskender NurmiBy Iskender Nurmi