Rustam Minnikhanov meets with Tatar Diaspora of Australia

Today RT President R.N. Minnikhanov has met with representatives of South Australia Tatar community.

A meeting took place in a hall Banksia of Intercontinental hotel (Adelaide), Tatar Diaspora was represented by over 100 people – the community activists.

Tatar community of Australia has began forming since Second World War, its foundation was laid by Tatars emigrated from Chinese Manchuria province in 1945. Today Tatar Australia Diaspora counts over 500 people. The most of Tatars live in Adelaide (South Australia state). Recently here 60th anniversary of Tatars relocation was celebrated at the level of South Australia government.

Tatar community is represented in several organizations. In 1984 Association of South Australia Tatars was founded. In 1990 the biggest by now Diaspora of Tatars –Bashkirs association of South Australia was officially registered.

Opening the meting President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov passed the Tatar community representatives the words of welcome from Kazan, from all Tatars and thanked for warm reception. It is pleasant to hear Tatar speech so far from home, Rustam Minnikhanov said, he thanked heartfelt Tatars of Australia for they have managed to preserve language, culture and traditions of their folk do far from home.

Rustam Minnikhanov told Australian Tatars about projects that called to assist them in perceiving connection with historical motherland, to bring Tatar culture. This, in particular, a project «TNV-Planeta» - the first satellite channel of Tatarstan aimed at audience beyond the republic, for overseas viewers and Tatar version of social network «VKontakte» - it is addressed to the youth.
Then Tatar singer of Australian origin Zulfia Kamalova performed songs in Tatar language. Children in Tatar dress performed Tatar dances.

Rustam Minnikhanov presented music center with Tatar karaoke to Australian community. Besides as a gift the Australian Tatars received the training literature for learning Tatar language and specially tailored Tatar national clothes.

Communication with Australian Tatars went on in Tatar, most here do not speak Russian and communicate only in Tatar and English.

Rustam Minnikhanov handed Letters of Gratitude from President of Tatarstan to spouses Sagit and Lilia Sadri, one of the founders of Tatars Diaspora in Australia. The Sadri moved to Australia in 70s past century, they are active supporters of preserving Tatar language and traditions. Both spouses are far 90 year old, their children and grandkids are members of Tatar Diaspora and do not lose bonds with historical motherland .

Letters of thanks were handed also to Rustam Sadri – honorary president of Tatar Association of South Australia, Shukrat Valiff - president of Tatar-Bashkurt Association of Australia, Ziya Maski, Nailya Tashkent and Musharaff Valiff - activists of Tatar community and a singer Zulfia Kamalova.

Upon end of the meeting Tatars of Australia took photo with Rustam Minnikhanov and performed a well-known Tatar song of G. Tukai verses «I tugan tel».