1 February 2000
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Chechen Representation In Kazan Closed
The State Registration Department of Tatarstan's Ministry of Justice canceled the license of the Chechen permanent representative's office in the republic, Tatarinform agency reported on 1 February. According to the Foreign Affairs Department of President Mintimer Shaimiev's office, the representation could possibly gain the status of a trade office in the future. Chechnya's official representative in Tatarstan, Umar Ayupov, has been working for about four years in Kazan, mostly dealing with bilateral economic ties.
Tatarstan's President Meets Belarusian Official
Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev met with Belarusian Foreign Minister Ural Latipov on 31 January in Kazan, the presidential press service announced the same day. The two sides reportedly discussed bilateral cooperation in the economic and cultural spheres. According to the press service, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka is going to visit Tatarstan later this year. Tatar Minister of Trade and Economic Cooperation Hafiz Salikhov and the deputy director of the Presidential Foreign Affairs Department, Dinar Ismagilov, also attended the meeting.
Tatar Nationalists Appeal To Holocaust Forum
The nationalist Tatar Public Center branch in Tatarstan's second city Chally appealed to Swedish Prime Minister Yoran Persson and the organizational committee of the International Holocaust Forum on 31 January. The appeal stated that the Tatar Public Center "shared the ideas of the forum," noting that "within the last five years none of the foreign countries or international organizations had been determined enough to speak out against the Holocaust against the heroic Chechen people."
YelAZ-GM Venture To Boost Production In 2000
The YelAZ-General Motors joint venture in Tatarstan earned $1 million in profits in 1999, the AK&M agency reported on 1 February. According to the company's new managing director, Axel Smith, such results were achieved "due to rearrangements inside the company and despite the current economic crisis." YelAZ-GM reportedly produced and sold 500 Chevrolet-Blazers and Opel Vectras in 1999. The company intends to increase the share of produced Opel Vectras by 50 percent and sell a total of 1,300 vehicles of both brands in 2000.
Tatarstan's Muslim Leader Heads To North Africa
Tatarstan's Muslim Spiritual Board chairman, Gusman khazrat Iskhak, will participate in the World Forum of Muslims in Fort-Lami, the Republic of Chad, agencies reported on 1 February. En route to Chad, Gusman khazrat intends to visit Italy, Malta, and Libya. The world forum will also involve Muslim leaders from other Russian republics and CIS countries.
Compiled by Iskender Nurmi