Mintimer Shaimiev meets with Akhmet Akynty

Tatarstan’s State Counselor Mintimer Shaimiev has met with Consul General of the Turkish Republic in Kazan Akhmet Akynty.

Akhmet Akynty is the eighth Consul General from the opening date of the Consulate General of the Turkish Republic in Kazan. He started working in January 2011 and is currently finishing his activity in Russia.

Mintimer Shaimiev thanked Akhmet Akynty for active and efficient work, and enormous personal contribution to development of the Tatarstan-Turkish relationships, wished success in further diplomatic activity. He noted that foundation of Consulate General of Turkey in Kazan and its 16-year service confirms sequence of intentions of the Turkish Republic in terms of consolidation of all-round relations with Russian Federation. Tatarstan plays a considerable role in this process since Tatar and Turkish peoples are fraternal Turkic peoples.

During the conversation, most important jointly arranged events of the last two years were specified: the Year of Gabdulla Tukai in Turkey (2011); the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Tatarstan in March last year; the visit of the Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov to Turkey in May this year.

Issues of further cooperation between the republics were also discussed. Tatarstan’s State Counselor and Consul General of the Turkish Republic exchanged opinions regarding forthcoming jointly organised events, participation of Tatarstan in activity of the International organisation of the Turkic culture TURKSOI, and possible announcement of Kazan the cultural capital of Turkic world in 2014.

Akhmet Akynty noted that cooperation between Turkey and Russia had turned into strategic partnership. Interaction with Russian regions is a part of this successful work, and Tatarstan plays a special role due to established historical and cultural relations.

Akhmet Akynty addressed Mintimer Shaimiev with words of deep gratitude for understanding and support.