31 May 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Shaimiev Says Power-Sharing Treaty Basis of Ties with Russia
President Mintimer Shaimiev on 30 May said that he will continue to discuss federation affairs with Moscow officials but that relations between Kazan and Moscow will continue to be based on the bilateral power-sharing treaty between the two.
Contradictory Reports On Tatarstan Parliament�s Future
Russian Federalism Institute head Aleksandr Arinin said that Tatarstan�s State Council will be dissolved in autumn, RFE/RL�s Ufa correspondent reported on 30 May. But the same day Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev the same day in Kazan said that �the Tatarstan State Council must complete its term in a normal way.� Meanwhile, the Russian Supreme Court cancelled a suit by Tatarstan�s RIZ (Equality and Legality) against �illegal activity of Tatarstan State Council permanently working deputies,� Tatarstan Television reported on 30 May.
Mukhametshin Addresses Council Of Europe
Speaker Farid Mukhametshin delivered a report to the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Governments on the impact of globalization, Tatarstan television reported on 30 May.
Kazan to Ensure that Housing Reform Leaves None Behind
President Shaimiev said that Kazan will conduct the reform of municipal housing in a way that will leave no one behind even as more money is put into the sector. He said that the more well-off in the republic will begin paying 100 percent of costs at the start of next year but that no one, no matter how poor, will ever be required to spend more than 25 percent of his or her income.
Zhirinovsky Sees Islamic Threat in Middle Volga
Speaking in Orenburg, Duma Vice Chairman and LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovskiy said that "Muslim forces from neighboring Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and Kazakhstan� threaten Orenburg oblast and that presidents of these republics seek �to dismember Orenburg oblast,� Islam.ru reported on 29 May. He said that �alien names of residential areas as Abdulino, Saraqtash, Aqbulaq, Tyulgan, Quvandiq� must be changed as quickly as possible. He said that non-Russian schools should be closed because "nobody studies there."
Kirienko Presents Awards to Olympians
Sergei Kirienko, the presidential envoy to the Volga federal district presented state awards to Olympic silver medalist Svetlana Demina and trainer Sergei Demin, tatnews.ru reported on 30 May. Both are from Tatarstan.
Journalists Discuss Ethnic Conflicts
A media seminar devoted to the problems of ethnic minorities opened in Kazan on 30 May, Efir-inform reported. Editors and journalists from the Volga Federal District are taking part in this Council of Europe-sponsored event.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Rakhimov Discusses Energy Issues
President Murtaza Rakhimov met the chairman of Federal Energy Commission Georgy Kutovoy on 30 May to discuss the technical and economic aspects of energy development in the republic, the presidential press service reported.
Fatherland Local Enthusiastic on Merger With Unity
Bashkortostan's Fatherland branch leader Rim Bakiyev told Bashinform agency on 30 May that the current lack of agreement on all issues between Fatherland and Unity show that the two groups contain people who care about matters of principle.
State Committee Probes Embezzlement Schemes
The State Control Committee is investigating an embezzlement scheme intended to skim some 60 million rubles ($2 million) from the republic budget, aromi.ru reported on 30 May.
Special Commission to Focus on Agriculture
The republic's cabinet has formed a special commission to focus on agriculture problems, including debt restructuring, the republic press reported on 30 May.
Bashkir Women Help Flood Victims in Sakha
The Women's Union of Bashkortostan has launched a campaign to collect funds for the victims of flooding in Sakha, Bashkortostan state radio reported on 30 May.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi