Rustam Minnikhanov meets activists of Cultural Association of the Tatars in Italy

On December 12, during his working visit to Milan, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met activists of Cultural Association of the Tatars in Italy.

The meeting talked about the active cooperation of the Tatars living in Italy with organizations of the republic, including the World Congress of Tatars, the Selet Youth Organization and others.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Cultural Association Zukhra Mazhitova told Minnikhanov about the organization's activities, and her deputy and member of the board of the Alliance of Tatars in Europe Venera Abdulkhalikova and member of the Association Alsou Gumerova informed him about some projects. Singer Rafis Khusnutdinov from Venice, laureate of many international competitions sang a song in the Tatar language.

As noted at the meeting, the Association aims to preserve national identity and to make the Italian citizens familiar with the history, customs and traditions of the Tatar people, to develop and to strengthen cultural and business ties between Italy and Tatarstan. The members of the Tatar Diaspora take an active part in events held by the World Congress of Tatars and the Alliance of Tatars in Europe.

The compatriots addressed Minnikhanov with a request to help them in providing the Association with specialized literature and books in the Tatar language.

Moreover, Italian businessmen, who maintain close relations with the Association made a presentation of some projects that can be implemented jointly with Tatarstan. In particular, they told him about the development of confectionery manufacture and delivery of chocolate and candies to the republic. Minnikhanov instructed the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency to look into possible cooperation with Italian entrepreneurs.

Minnikhanov also called the Tatars living abroad to keep in touch with their small homeland and to speak their native language. "The Tatar language is the mother tongue," he said. "It is important not to forget it."

According to Minnikhanov, Russia, with Tatarstan being its part, is a huge country with all its diversity. Therefore, the Tatars living in Italy and in other countries do everything to popularize the culture of multinational Russia and the peoples inhabiting it. Representatives of many ethnicities live in Russia, Minnikhanov noted, adding that this is the country’s diversity, strength, and national heritage.

As for cooperation with Italy, Tatarstan is ready to establish relations with representatives of Italian business, Minnikhanov continued. We can develop relations in the field of culture and tourism, sports and other areas, he added.