29 March 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatar Parliament Opposes Importing Nuclear Waste
The State Council has appealed to Moscow against any importing of nuclear wastes into Russia, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported on 28 March. Such imports, the council said, risk turning Russia "into a nuclear junkyard." The same day State Council chairman Farit Mukhametshin told RIA Novosti that "the consequences of this could be more significant than the profits to be made."
Kirienko Opposes Third and Fourth Terms for Regional Heads
In an interview published by regions.ru on 28 March, Presidential envoy to the Volga Federal District Sergei Kirienko said that he opposes allowing regional heads to run for third and fourth terms, but he added that he believes those elected in 1999 or later should count that as their first term. He called Tatarstan's economy "state capitalism," saying that it has a strict power vertical in the economy. And he said that Tatarstan should serve as a model for other regions.
Bogelme Institute Says Increased Oil Output Possible
Bogelme Oil Institute director Ravil Ibatullin said in an interview with tatnews.ru published on 28 March that the oil companies of the republic could boos production by using special drilling technologies.
Tatar Culture Week Held in Saratov
Saratov oblast held a Tatar Culture Week in support of the local Tatar population, "Respublika Tatarstan" reported on 28 March.
Concrete Factory Workers End Strike
Five hundred workers at Kazan's concrete factory have returned to work, Efir TV reported on 29 March. The workers had struck because of heating cutoffs in workshops and growing wage arrears. The company has had difficulty paying its employees because the Kazan subway contractors have not paid it what they owe.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
U.S. Ambassador in Ufa
James Collins, the American ambassador in Moscow, arrived in Ufa on 28 March to open the American section of the Akhmet Zaki Validi National Library.
Czech Embassy Hosts Bashkir Businessmen
The Czech Republic embassy in Moscow hosted a delegation of Bashkortostan's small businesses on 27 March. That group will travel to Prague in May to promote trade ties between the two republics.
Travkin Announces SPS Chechen Plan
SPS leader and Duma deputy Nikolai Travkin on 28 March told Bashinform that the Chechen problem can be solved only by political measures. He called for appointing a governor general with unlimited powers to run the area, to divide the republic into two parts, and to work toward restoring the economy in the northern sector while punishing those who choose to remain in the mountains with the rebels.
Bashkortostan Representatives Among Leaders of Agrarian Party
Eleven delegates from Bashkortostan took part in the ninth congress of the Agrarian Party in Moscow and three have been elected to members of that group's policymaking bodies.
Young Voters Club Created
The regional youth branches of Fatherland-All Russia, Unity, SPS, the Communist party, and the Association of Working Youth formed an Ufa young voters club to raise participation of young people in political life, Bashinform reported on 28 March.
Bashkreditbank among Best in Europe
"Banker" magazine said that Bashkreditbank is one of the best banks in Europe, Bashinform reported on 27 March.
Ufa Promotes Small Businesses
Robert Vagapov, the deputy foreign relations and trade minister took part in a Russia-wide conference of small business representatives in Moscow, Bashinform reported on 28 March. He said that Bashkortostan now leads Russia on many of the issues small businesses care about.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova