Rustam Minnikhanov meets heads of Tatar communities in Kazakhstan

On September 19, within the framework of Days of the Republic of Tatarstan in Kazakhstan, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met heads of Tatar communities at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.

Akim of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov, Ambassador of Russia to Kazakhstan Mikhail Bocharnikov, Tatarstan First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Industry and Trade Ravil Zaripov, Tatarstan Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin took part in the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting Imangali Tasmagambetov said that the forum of Tatarstan and Kazakhstan businessmen and a meeting with Tatarstan President on social and economic development and cooperation in humanitarian sphere were held in Astana on September 19.

Rustam Minnikhanov thanked Kazakhstan leadership for hospitality: “It is a great privilege for us to hold days of thRepublic of Tatarstan in Kazakhstan. We have special relationships, many of our compatriots, Tatars live here. We want you to preserve our culture, traditions and language.” Tatarstan President added that he was very proud of Tatars living in Kazakhstan, because they played a great role in the country’s development.

Rustam Minnikhanov noted that Tatarstan and Kazakhstan have good relations and the republics are interested in implementing trade-economic, cultural and educational projects. He also suggested organizing student exchange programmes between Tatarstan and Kazakhstan.

Representatives of Tatar communities, in their turn, thanked for organizing such a big holiday as Days of the Republic of Tatarstan in Kazakhstan. They said that Kazakhstan is their home, where people respect Tatar culture and traditions.

Kazakhstan residents thanked Tatarstan leadership for organizing concerts of Tatar artists and Sabantui holiday in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan Tatars stressed that they live comfortably in their country and they are proud of Tatarstan achievements at the same time. They noted that Tatarstan and Kazakhstan are becoming centres of mutual understanding and spirituality that should be passed to the younger generation.

Members of Tatar communities also addressed Rustam Minnikhanov with request to mount the memorial plaque of Musa Dzhalil and reconstruct the Cathedral Mosque that was built in the 19th century.

During the meeting Rustam Minnikhanov introduced Tatarstan plenipotentiary in Kazakhstan Rustam Timergaliev.

According to the Executive Committee of the World Congress of Tatars, there are 350, 000 Tatars living in Kazakhstan. The “Association of Tatars and Bashkirs of Kazakhstan” is the national association of Tatars in Kazakhstan.