27 August 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Division Of Production May Be Used At Tatarstan's Big Oil Deposit
The implementation of Russian law on the division of rights to the Romashkinskoye oil deposit in Tatarstan were discussed at a meeting held by President Mintimer Shaimiev on 26 August, Tatar Television and Radio reported. A decision on whether or not to use the Russian law on the site expected to be made soon. Russian Deputy Fuel and Energy Minister Valerii Garipov participated in the meeting. He said in an interview with Tatar Television that the "division of production is the only way to attract cheap money." However, Shaimiev said the agreement on a division of production is favorable for new deposits but not for Romashkinskoye, which has already produced two billion tons of oil. Shaimiev said "this [Russian] law is very progressive in principle, but we need advantageous decisions in conditions to be made available." In the opinion of First Deputy Prime Minister Ravil Muratov, if Tatarstan's oil company Tatneft invests in the project, its large credit debts would be problematic.
Tatarstan, U.S. To Cooperate In Corn Growing
Prospects for greater cooperation in the cultivation of corn will be discussed during a visit to Tatarstan by the U.S. attache on agriculture at the U.S. embassy in Moscow, Mike Smith, and representatives from the American Trade Association. The U.S. delegation arrived in Kazan on 26 August for a two-day visit. On the agenda during the stay are meetings in the Agriculture and Foodstuffs Ministry and visits to several farms in the Balyq Bistese and Archa districts, Tatar Television reported.
Interethnic Communication Discussed At Conference
Interethnic relations were the main topic at an international conference called "Language, Culture, Religion: the East and the West," held in Chally on 24-25 August, Tatar-inform reported. Scientists from Tatarstan, Russia, the U.S., France, and Japan discussed the various psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of intercultural communications, especially as they exist within society in Tatarstan.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova