12 May 2005
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatarstan To Develop Concept For E-Government
Tatarstan's IT Development and Communications Minister Ferit Fazylzyanov told reporters on 11 May that his ministry has formed on the basis of former ministry of communications will concentrate on establishing direct ties between republican government bodies and citizens, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported the same day. Fazylzyanov emphasized that access to new information technologies "should not be harmful to security." In Fazylzyanov's words, the government needs to provide a "more adequate" assessment of information security at public Internet access facilities and educational institutions. He added that, along with the development of information and communication technologies, "the threat is also growing."
Federal Minister Visits KamAZ
Russian Industry and Energy Minister and KamAZ board Chairman Viktor Khristenko visited Chally on 11 May to get acquainted with the company's production lines and discussing the company's future, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported the next day. Tatar Prime Minister Rustam Minnikhanov joined Khristenko's meeting with the KamAZ management. Also on 11 May, federal minister left for Togliatti, Samara oblast for a similar visit to AvtoVAZ automotive company.
Before his departure from Chally, Khristenko told reporters that his current tour of Russia's automotive industry is devoted to preparing a meeting of the federal government on the prospects for the domestic automotive industry development. He said Russia's automotive market in 2004 totaled $17 billion and said that amount is expected to double by 2010. Given the sector's current conditions, Khristenko said, it is vital for KamAZ to speed up the launch of the production of truck engines that meet pollution standards ranging from Euro-2 to Euro-5. Commenting on the likely consequences of Russia's possible membership of the World Trade Organization, Khristenko said that "this move will not be destructive for KamAZ and the rest of Russia's automotive industry."
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Former Bashkir Prosecutor Brings Old Team With Him To Yaroslavl
Former Bashkir prosecutor Mikhail Zelepukin, who now heads the prosecutor's office in Yaroslavl Oblast, invited his former employee Yevgenii Mojarov to head his investigation department, an RFE/RL Ufa correspondent reported on 11 May. Unofficial sources also suggested Zelepukin will pick a deputy from his former Bashkortostan colleagues well.
'Subbotnik' Tradition Lives On In Bashkortostan
A large number of Bashkortostan residents took part in traditional May "subbotniki" -- days set aside for cleaning courtyards and parks near their homes and offices, the press service of Bashkortostan's Natural Resources Ministry reported on 11 May. According to the reports, more than 2 million residents "volunteered for cleaning jobs after the republic's government ordered all local organizations to ensure their territories would be cleaned."
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi