10 June 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Shaimiev Meets With Russian Premier
Tatarstan's President Mintimer Shaimiev met on 9 June with Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin to discuss the political situation in the Russian Federation, Interfax reported. Shaimiev told Interfax that Stepashin "shared his [Shaimiev's] concern about the political instability caused by the lowering of state employees' standard of living that might precede the upcoming State Duma elections. Stepashin acknowledges the necessity of measures for preventing such situation," Shaimiev said. Shaimiev suggested that technical assistance be urgently provided to the Russian agriculture sector. He spoke against splitting up oil giant Gazprom, saying "this might cause a permanent headache for the Russian government." Shaimiev reportedly informed Stepashin about the activities of the Vsya Rossia electoral bloc which he said aims to form a majority in the next Russian parliament. "After the elections," he said, "Russia will have to reach a civilized level by forming a government of the parliamentary majority." He said "This would delegate equal responsibility to the different bodies of the [Russian] government and abolish grounds for possible conflict or opposition between them."
Shaimiev At The Federation Council
President Shaimiev expressed his opposition to a draft federal law on principles that would be the basis for power-sharing treaties between Moscow and the territorial entities of the Russian Federation during a Federation Council meeting on 9 June, Tatarinform reported. Shaimiev criticized the current draft, saying that it was "aimed on limiting the rights of members of Russian Federation."
Boats And Helicopters Made For Border Guards
A protocol of intentions was signed by Tatarstan's Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov and Federal Border Guard Director Konstantin Totskii in Kazan on 9 June. According to the treaty, border guards will purchase small military speedboats from the Yashel Uzen shipyard and helicopters from the Kazan helicopter plant. The military reportedly will order about 50-70 speedboats through 2005, while the construction of a top of the line vessel is being finished. Totskii also told Tatarinform that "undoubtedly the other frontier guards' helicopters would be repaired in Kazan."
State Council Chairman On Regional Bank Issues
Tatarstan's State Council chairman, Farit Mukhametshin, met with the chief of the Russian Regional Development Bank, D. Titov, Tatarinform reports. Mukhametshin, a member of the bank's observers' committee, went over issues with Titov that will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the bank's directors.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi