26 November 2004
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Tatar Public Center Accuse Kazan Mayor Of Boosting Interethnic Tensions In The Republic
The roundtable of moderate nationalist Tatar Public Center (TIU) on 25 November condemned the Kazan mayor Kamil Iskhakov for his efforts for returning the icon of Kazan Godmother to the Tatar capital by its millennium anniversary celebrations, stating assurance in that the return will bring to �destabilization in the republic,� RFE/RL�s Kazan bureau reported the next day. Naming the Kazan mayor, who being an ethnic Tatar, made these efforts, TIU called him a �traitor,� asserting that the return will increase the tensions between the Russians and Tatas and so will the opening of the Orthodox pilgrimage center, which is expected to be built for the icon worshipped by Russian Orthodox Church since the conquest of Kazan by Russian troops in 16th century. The currently mentioned icon is the copy of the original Orthodox relic, handed as a gift of Pope to the Russian Church.
World Bank To Make Its Decision On Kazan Loan In January 2005
Meeting with president Mintimer Shaimiev on 25 November, director of the World Bank branch in Russia Kristalina Georgieva said that in January 2005 the Bank�s board of directors will consider the issue of granting a $125 million loan to the city of Kazan for implementing the city�s development strategy till 2015, RFE/RL�s Kazan bureau reported the next day. Georgieva praised the current preparations for the strategy�s implementation, expressed in adopting special laws on municipal government and social protection of population,
Tatarstan Plans An Ambitious Project For Boosting Its Attractiveness For Investors
Tatarstan�s Minister of Transport and roads Vladimir Shvetsov told the reporters on 25 November that Tatarstan is planning to create an international freight logistics terminal at the cost of $300 million, thus reviving the 10 years old project, which had failed due to the lack of funding, �Kommersant-Povolzhye� wrote the next day. The terminal to be established near Sviyazhsk, Yeshel Uzen region of Tatarsan is expected to become a center of stockpiling, consignation, distribution, processing, distribution and shipment of a wide range of cargo.
Tatar Pop Star Seeking To Duet With Eminem
Alsou, the international pop start of Tatar descent is likely to perform in a duet with the world-famous, yet controversial rap star Eminem and sides are currently discussing the price of the projectm, Vazhno.ru reported on 25 November. Eminem was said to mention the price of several million dollars, and Alsou�s recording company currently seeks to negotiate on a lower price.
Compiled by Iskeder Numi
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Nizhnii Movgorod Amdinistration Bans The Rally For Tatar Rights
The city government of Nizhnii Novgorod on 25 November cancelled its recent approval for Bashkortostan�s Tatar Public Center, which had planned to stage a protest meeting on its way to the civic congress of Bashkortostan�s Tatars in Moscow, Bashnews repoted the same day. Tatar Public Center, which seeks to obtain an official status to Tatar language in Bashkortostan, reportedly linked the refusal to an alleged phone call from Bashkortostan�s Murtaza Rakhimov to Sergei Kirienko, the Russian presidential envoy in Volga federal district, whose office is located in Nizhnii Novgorod.
Greenpeace Concerned With UNIDO�s Participation in Yumaguzin Project
Greenpeace Russia addressed the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)with a request to issue and official comment on its joining the project for constructing the Umaguzin water reserve in Bashkortostan, which is reportedly being conducted with major vlations of environmental laws, Bashnews reported on 25 November. Accordign to Mikhail Kneidlin, expert of the Greenpeace timber protection group, �by these statements Bashkir authorities are trying to remove their responsibility for consequences of the project and partially put it on international organizations.
Bashkortostan�s Budget Ready For Endorsement By The Presdient
On 25 November the Bashkortostan�s State Assembly adopted in the final 3rd reading the draft republican budget for 2005, with the 32.2 billion rubles ($1.11 billion) of estimated incomes and 32.7 billion ($1.12)of expenses, which would result in 2.5 billion rubles (some $86 million)deficit, Bashinform reported the same day. According to experts presenting the draft budget, the deficit emerged due to the reduction of sigle social tax from 35.6 percent to 26 percent and the decreasing of Bashkortostan�s shares in revenues from the oil tax from 14.4 percent to 5 percent, just as the total withdrawal of water tax from the republic�s jurisdiction. In addition the republic will receive 5 percent instead of the former 6.5 percent of the profit tax collected in Bashkortostan.
Compiled by Iskeder Numi