1 May 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
May Day Marked In Tatarstan...
Tatarstan's Trade Unions Federation held a rally celebrating May Day in Kazan's Central Park. Later the Russian Communist Party branch held its own meeting at the same location and condemned both Kazan and Moscow for pursuing anti-worker policies.
...But Not The Way It Is In Russia
But officials noted that in Tatarstan, unlike in Russia, only 1 May is a holiday. Tomorrow is a regular working day.
PM Delivers A Greeting Message...
Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov greeted Tatarstan residents in an address on the eve of the holiday, emphasizing among other things the importance of Tatarstan's sovereignty declaration.
...But Tuben Kama Warns of Power Cut Offs
According to Efir-Inform agency, power suppliers warned the Tuben Kama city administration in advance of the holiday that the company may have to shut off electricity there because of unpaid bills.
Tatarstan Adopts Earth Charter
The State Council endorsed the Earth Charter elaborated by the Green Cross organization, RFE\RL Kazan's Bureau reported on 30 April.
'Totalitarian Sects' Seen Threatening Stability
A 28 conference in Kazan said that the emergence of "totalitarian sects" in Tatarstan is threatening inter-confessional stability there, republic media reported. Government and religious officials agreed that traditional religions should be defended against this threat. The meeting also called for more and better coverage of religious events.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Bashkortostan Celebrates May Day
The majority of Bashkortostan's urban citizens spent 1 May at their dachas rather than at meetings celebrating the May 1 holiday, RFE\RL's Ufa correspondent reports.
Bashkir Legislators Don't Address Tatar Language Issue
According to RFE\RL correspondents in Ufa and Kazan on 30 April, recent meetings of Bashkir and Tatar legislators in Tatarstan on 27-28 April did not take up the issue of making Tatar a state language in Bashkortostan.
Bashkir Airlines Managers Misuse Funds
"Respublika Bashkortostan" reported on 28 April that an investigation had found that top managers at BAL had misused $2.5 million even as they had failed to increase revenues.
Ufa Business Official Calls for More Federal Investments
Nikolai Lutov, the chairman of the State Industry Committee, told Bashinform on 28 April that republic companies "had to participate in the federal tenders and programs more actively to attract investments" particularly because of declining investment funds in the republic budget.
Bashkreditbank To Represent Bashkortostan Internationally
Bashkreditbank was chosen to represent the interests of Bashkortostan in international financial markets, Bashinform reported on 28 April.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi