28 July 2004
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Large Pieces Of Tatar State Property Waiting For Private Owners
Property Relations Minister Boris Vasilev told reporters on 27 July that of the more than 500 state-owned industries currently registered in Tatarstan, only 40 will remain the republic's property, while the most of them will be privatized or be placed in bankruptcy, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported on 28 July. By the end of 2004 the major republican distiller Tatspirtprom will reportedly be transformed into a joint-stock venture and later be offered for a takeover in order to obtain new investments. Kazan will also sell its entire stake in Tatarstan Airlines and the international Kazan Airport at an auction on 20 August.
Tatarstan currently owns a 100 percent stake in 588 industries, at the total cost of 50 billion rubles($1.7 billion). Some $6 million worth of 106 state-owned companies have already been privatized in 2004. In the first six months of 2004, the government earned more than $33 million from managing state property.
Kazan Markets Closed Over Terrorism Concerns
Kazan's Vakhitov District administration has revoked the licenses of five markets for violations of counterterrorism safety standards, Interfax reported on 27 July. The privately-owned markets were shut down after receiving official warnings. The inspection of markets in the remaining six administrative districts of Kazan are pending.
Quotas Set For Diaspora Entering Tatar Universities
The Kazan-based World Tatar Congress and the Russian Education Ministry have agreed on an 80-person quota for the admission of members of the Tatar diaspora to universities in Tatarstan, RFE/RL's Kazan bureau reported on 28 July. In 2004, some 250 members of the Tatar diaspora filed enrollment applications, mostly for learning Tatar history and linguistics. Of that 250, 80 will be accepted.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Political Concerns Halt Tatar Days Celebrations In Kazan
Organizers of Bashkortostan's Tatar Days said they are disappointed by an absence of support for their project from authorities in Tatarstan, an RFE/RL Ufa correspondent reported on 27 July. An unnamed source within Tatarstan's government suggested the event could lead to increased tensions between the republican governments in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan.
Bashkortostan Praised For Active Development Of Mortgage Market
The chairman of an industry association allying mortgage-lending institutions, Vladimir Ponomarev, said during a 27 July news conference that Bashkortostan is among Russia's regions with the highest level of activity aimed at attracting investments to the construction sector. Ponomarev promoted the idea of introducing insurance companies for sharing the risks related to those individuals who have no credit history.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi