31 August 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Putin Greets Tatarstan on Sovereignty Day
President Mintimer Shaimiev on 30 August said that President Vladimir Putin passed his greetings on the 11th anniversary of Tatarstan�s declaration of sovereignty and wished Kazan success in helping to create a genuine federation, RFE/RL's Kazan correspondent reported.
Tatarstan�s Independent TV Channel Begins Broadcasting
Tatarstan�s new television channel Tatarstan � New Century on 30 August began its transmission on 12,238-mgHz frequency with coverage of celebrations of Republic Day in Kazan, RFE/RL�s Kazan Bureau reported.
Turkish Minister Calls for Closer Cooperation
Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Zilya Valeeva on 29 August, State Minister of Turkey Abdulhalyuq Mehmet Chai said that bilateral relations between Turkey and Tatarstan still have room to grow, Tatar-inform reported. He said that a lack of information on both sides was hindering developments. Valeeva noted that 200 students from Tatarstan currently study at Turkish universities and that 2,500 children attend the ten Turkish-Tatar lyceums in Tatarstan. Chair also met with Trade and Foreign Economic Cooperation Minister Khafiz Salikhov to discuss bilateral cooperation, Tatar-inform reported.
Federal Inspector Says No One Abolished Declaration Of Sovereignty
Chief federal inspector in Tatarstan Marsel Galimardanov said in an interview published in �Vremya i dengi� on 29 August that the republic over the past year has had enough political wisdom to avoid serious clashes with Moscow. He noted that at the same time that �no one has abolished the Declaration of State Sovereignty, so it existed, is existing and will remain among the possessions of the Tatarstan people.� He said that one should not regret that budget relations between Kazan and Moscow had not taken their current shape before, noting that Tatarstan previous years had efficiently invested its resources and that this was recognized in Moscow. At the same time, he added that harmonization should not be speeded up simply in order to finish "at any cost."
Tatarstan Government Promotes New Bus
The cabinet has provided a state order on the production annually of 100 urban buses over the next five years at the joint Tatar-Swedish Ckantat-Alabuga company, Tatar-inform reported on 29 August.
Kazan Puppet Theater to Attend International Festival in Bulgaria
The Kazan Puppet Theater Ekiyet received an invitation to take part in the International festival of puppet performances for elderly people in Bulgaria, Tatar-inform reported on 29 August.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Tatarstan Official Says His Republic and Bashkortostan must Draw Together
A state advisor to Tatarstan President Rafail Khakimov said in an interview published in Bashkortostan�s �Omet� newspaper on 30 August that the political situation in Russia forces Tatarstan and Bashkortostan to draw together and to provide mutual support. He pointed out that the issue of state building has never been of such importance for Russia as at the moment. He said that while other empires have collapsed this century, Russia continues traditions of its past and bases its policy on the myths of great power, something that looks like death convulsion. Russia does not have the inner resources to continue its imperial traditions nor the potential to adopt a different strategy, he said. And he suggested that unless Russia moves toward becoming a genuine federation, it will likely face disintegration.
Belebei Among Winners Of Russian-Wide Competition
Russian State Construction Committee head Anvar Shamuzafarov named Belebei Russia's second-ranking town below 100,000 population rated according to the modern conveniences the population enjoys. The city received 3.2 million in prizes.
Plaque to Be Placed on House Where Dovlatov Lived in Ufa
The cabinet plans to commemorate writer Sergei Dovlatov by placing a memorial plaque on the house in Ufa where he lived, Bashinform reported on 30 August. Dovlatov was born in the Bashkortostan capital in 1941.
Bashkortostan, Kurgan Oblast Media To Cooperate
The Bashkortostan Information and Press Ministry and the Kurgan Oblast Press and Mass Media Commission have signed a cooperation agreement, Ural-press-inform reported on 29 August. A delegation of the Bashkortostan ministry took part in a mass media festival in Kurgan Oblast. Minister Fanil Kudakaev said that since 1995 when the previous agreement was signed, Bashkortostan has allotted 400,000 rubles for the equipping the Bashkir Safakul raion newspaper and that 50 students from Kurgan Oblast study at republic's professional educational institutions.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova