13 October 1999
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Shaimiev Discusses KamAZ Debt In Moscow
Tatarstan's president, Mintimer Shaimiev, met in Moscow on 12 October with Russian Finance Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and Economics Minister Andrei Shapovalyants, Tatar Radio and Television reported. The restructuring of the KamAZ truck concern's debt and interbudget relations between Kazan and Moscow were discussed at the meeting.
Industrial Production Grows In Tatarstan
Tatarstan's acting economics and industry minister, Anvar Karimov, said on 12 October that industrial production grew over the last nine months in Tatarstan by 109 percent. Karimov reported at a press conference at the Cabinet of Ministers that the greatest growth--127 percent--was made in the machine building and metal-working industry. He said the only branch of industry facing a drop off in production is light industry. Karimov said fuel industry production increased by 101 percent, chemical and petrochemical industry output by 107 percent, and defense industry production by 120 percent. Karimov said that wage arrears in Tatarstan were reduced from more than 800 million rubles ($32 million) in January to some 550 million rubles ($22 million).
Greenpeace Against Construction Of Reservoir On Agidel
A delegation from the environmental organization Greenpeace began collecting signatures in Tatarstan on 12 October in Kazan against the construction of the Yumaguji reservoir on the Agidel River, Tatar Radio and Television reported. A Greenpeace ship equipped to test chemical pollution in water docked the same day at the Kazan river port. The Greenpeace activists believe construction of the reservoir will severely hurt the biological diversity in the region.
Kazan Mayor Among Heads Of European Historical Cities Association
The mayor of Kazan, Kamil Iskahkov, was elected vice president of the non-governmental European Association of Historical Cities and Regions, Tatar-inform reported on 11 October. Iskhakov headed a Russian delegation at a constituent conference of the association on 7-8 October in Strasbourg under the aegis of the Council of Europe. The association, with its headquarters in Norwich, Great Britain, is to defend the interests of historical cities and regions in Europe, develop cooperation and partnership between the historical places, and maintain the cultural legacy. Russian delegates informed the association on preparations for a conference devoted to the historical legacy of the 20th century scheduled to be held in Kazan in 2002.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova