20 April 2001
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Ilkham Aliyev Says Tatarstan Model Suits Karabakh
"Nezavisimaya gazeta" on 18 April in the article "Karabakh in the Tatar way� reported that the son of Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliyev Ilkham has proposed proposed to use Tatarstan as a model for the status of Karabakh as part of a settlement of that conflict.
Deputy Premier Unhappy with Tax Code
Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Kogogin criticized the new Tax Code saying that it does not stimulate increased production, "Vremya i dengi" reported on 19 April. At the same time, he said that Russian regions use Tatarstan's experience in economic innovations and that authorities of Udmurtia, Buryatia, and Marii El consult Tatarstan on these issues.
Will Likhachev Become Federation Council Speaker?
"Zvezda Povolzhya" on 19 April reported rumors that Vasily Likhachev, Tatarstan's parliamentary speaker, may replace Yegor Stroyev as Federation Council speaker.
Shashurin Sues CEC
The Tatarstan Supreme Court on 19 April began hearing a suit filed by former presidential candidate Sergei Shashurin against the republic�s Central Electoral Commission and Tatarstan Television Company, republic television reported. He accuses them of failing to ensure balanced coverage of the campaign.
No Delay In Introducing Latin Script
Tatarstan Language Research Institute director Nurmukhammat Khisamov on 19 April told RFE/RL's Kazan bureau that there will not be any delay in introducing Tatar Latin script and that a large group of republic teachers already has completed training in that script.
Constructors Reported Misusing Funds
The Parliamentary Control Committee on 19 April said that 170 million rubles ($5.9 million) had been used improperly during the construction of the Kama bridge, the Kazan underground, and reconstruction of the Kazan airport, Tatarstan Television reported.
Tatneft Shows Technologies In Iran
Tatneft is taking part in an international petroleum show in Tehran, Tatar-inform reported on 19 April.
Kazan Said Losing Oriental Image
Participants of the Kazan Orient (Shariq) club called to revive Muslim architecture in Tatarstan's capital, islam.ru reported on 19 April. Architect Niyaz Khalitov said that Kazan is loosing its Oriental color that should be reborn. The editor of "Tatar Ile" Shamil Khammatov said "Kazan is [now] a parody of West-European cities."
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova
DAILY REVIEW FROM BASHKORTOSTAN
Republic Court Considers Protest Against Constitution
The Bashkortostan Constitution Court on 19 April began a hearing on protest by Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Aleksandr Zvyagintsev against the republic Constitution, RFE/RL's Ufa correspondent reported.
Ufa Gets B- Credit Rating
Standard&Poor's has given Bashkortostan a B- credit rating, RBC reported on 19 April. The agency noted that this is the first new rating it has given to a region in Russia since the August 1998 crisis.
Harmonization Efforts Continue
As part of the harmonization process, the State Assembly on 19 April passed a series of laws and proposed amendments to several federal acts.
Ufa Receives IBRD Grant
Bashkortostan has won a $1 million grant from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to modernize its system of land registration, Bashinform reported.
Cabinet Concerned About Alcohol Production
The government on 19 April has set up a commission chaired by Prime Minister Rafael Baidavletov to control the production and sale of alcohol and to ensure the payment of taxes by that sector, Bashinform reported.
Tax Debt Increases
Rashit Sattarov, head of the Russian Tax Ministry in Bashkortostan, on 19 April said that the debt on taxes of republic companies to the budget has grown over the last three months by 15 percent to 20.4 billion rubles ($707 million), Bashinform reported.
Compiled by Gulnara Khasanova