24 November 1998
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Shaimiev Meets Indian Vice President
Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev met on 23 November with Indian Vice President Krishna Kant to discuss boosting bilateral ties, Tatar state television reported. Shaimiev is to hold a series of meetings with Indian officials during the official visit. He is accompanied by government officials, directors from Tatarstan's largest companies, and bankers. The Tatarstan delegation attended the Delhi International Trade-Industrial Exhibition and is scheduled to participate in a ceremony there next week marking a "Tatarstan Day," at which the products of 40 Tatar enterprises will be shown. The Tatar delegation considers the development of aircraft production and mechanical engineering as a top priority in the development of economic relations. The delegation is also expected to discuss with Indian officials the delivery of new models of Tatar-made helicopters.
Tatarstan Official Comments On Starovoitova
Tatarstan State Council Chairman Farid Mukhametshin called for social unity against the criminal elements that interfere with state institutions. In the wake of the murder of Russian Duma deputy Galina Starovoitova, Mukhametshin said in an interview with Tatar television on 23 November that such actions are "characteristic not only at the federal level, but in Russian regions as well." He added that he could "not exclude such an occurrence from taking place in Tatarstan during future elections." Nevertheless, Mukhametshin said he opposes declaring a state of emergency in Russia. He said returning to a police regime is not permissible.
KamAZ To Supply Equipment To U.S. Company
The KamAZ truck concern has signed several contracts with the U.S. company Masco-Tech to provide spare parts and tools, according to Tatar-Inform. The agency cited KamAZ First Deputy General Director Igor Khamidullin as saying that the contracts will be fulfilled by one of the largest KamAZ factories, KamAZinstrumentspetsmash, which turns out machine tools and other parts for the auto industry. Some 20 percent of KamAZinstrumentspetsmash's 1999 output will go towards fulfilling this huge deal and about one-third of the goods should be delivered to consumers this year. The agreement with Masco-Tech allows KamAZinstrumentspetsmash to keep some 80 employees that would have otherwise been laid off. The contracts should also help KamAZ pay overdue wages to employees and taxes to the state.
Tatarstan Gas Installation Fund Reports Big Problems In 1998
As of October, only half of Tatarstan's gas installation plan has been completed, the republic's Gas Installation Fund reported at a meeting on 23 November. Scheduled to receive some 780 million rubles to implement the program, only 320 million rubles have been received thus far in 1998. The Fund's debt to contractors currently stands at 170 million rubles, Tatar state television reported. The gas installation program is due to be finished by 2001.
Compiled by G.Khasanova