8 August 2000
DAILY REVIEW FROM TATARSTAN
Shaimiev Says Putin Must Head Russian State Council
The Russian presidential press service reported that President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree enabling the different governmental bodies of the Russian Federation to make suggestions on how to form a future Russian State Council. The council is expected to unite the governors of Russian regions after they have all withdrawn from the reformed Federation Council that they currently are members of. The State Council will reportedly work in Moscow's Kremlin on the site of the former Supreme Council of the USSR.
Tatarstan's president, Mintimer Shaimiev, told Tatarinform agency on 7 August that in his opinion, the proposed council "must be headed by the Russian president and must represent the heads of Russian territorial entities." Shaimiev advised that "in the nearest future, the status and functions of the council should be defined by the federal constitution." In his opinion, "all the functions concerning the federative structure of Russian Federation, given the new status of the Federation Council, must be laid upon the State Council."
Shaimiev said that he was "sure" that "there will be ways to give the State Council some powers" through the legislature.
KamAZ Wins Off-Road Race
News agencies reported on 8 August that the off-road racing team of the KamAZ automotive works won the international Paris to Istanbul rally race. A KamAZ truck was the first to cross the finish line, some 21 hours and 34 minutes before a racing team from Rome.
By Iskender Nurmi