President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov: Having such potential in our republic we can realise all tasks

Tatarstan’s economy should be developing in order that social tasks, such as capital repair of multi-apartment housing and schools, repair and construction of new motor roads, fulfillment of obligations in social sphere, implementation of important projects can be solved. Such a statement has been made by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov during the conversation with several republican media agencies at the RT Government House.

The following issues were discussed at a meeting with the Tatarstan President: development of the whole country and Tatarstan as a federation entity, regional micromanagement and increase of state’s role in economy, restructuring of Tatarstan’s debts to the country’s budget, use of potential of shale oil, struggle against extremist movements in traditional Islam.

“Russia is a multinational country where any nation can reveal itself. We must speak about it. It is not a secret that there are people who propagate violence, an alien ideology for us. However, we have certain traditions. Today those who managed to reveal themselves try to go up at the expense of extremist ideology. We must put things right with the help of federal and republican laws. Main thing is that every person should live and work peacefully, regardless of his faith. I know that a real believer will not ever announce his faith. Faith is inside us. Traditional Islam teaches us the good things and we should live in peace and harmony,” Rustam Minnikhanov said.

President of Tatarstan noted that appearance of extremist movements is a mistake of state authorities as well.

“As for preservation and learning of the Tatar language, we keep the same positions assigned by the RT Constitution and approved by the Parliament,” the RT President said.

Representatives of media agencies asked about further steps on supporting Tatarstan’s agro-industrial holding, taking into account economic problems faced by large agro-holdings OAO “VAMIN” and OAO “Krasny Vostok- Agro”.

“When we planned establishing major agro-holdings, the situation in the sphere of dairy farming was different. Now, as we are joining WTO, we are changing conditions on the run. Agro-holdings face enormous inefficient expenses. When they launched their business, they had different initial data,” the President said.

According to the Tatarstan President, agricultural and commodity producers do not have equal conditions.

Rustam Minnikhanov also said that Tatneft company would not be handed over to anyone. “Tatneft is the largest taxpayer in Tatarstan and Russia. Federal supervisory agencies do not express any complaints concerning the company’s activity. It is a high-tech and a highly professional company. Tatneft deals with oil-refining and petrochemistry, and investments,” the RT President said.