Rustam Minnikhanov speaks at plenary session of the 6th congress of the World Congress of Tatars

On 3rd of August, President of the Republic of Tatarstan -Rustam Minnikhanov, State Counsellor of the Republic of Tatarstan -  Mintimer Shaimiev, Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan - FaridMukhametshin, Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan - Alexey Pesoshin, Chief of Staff of the Administrationof the President of the Republic of Tatarstan AsgatSafarov, Chairman of the Executive committee of the World Congress of Tatars -RinatZakirov, and Mayor of Kazan IlsurMetshin took part in a plenary session of the 6th congress of the World Congress of Tatars.

After the official opening of the session, Rustam Minnikhanov addressed participants and guests of the forum with the welcoming speech.

“Good afternoon, dear delegates! Dear guests! With all my heart I welcome you in the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan!

This day is especially important for Tatars living in various corners of the world, as well as in the regions of Russia and Tatarstan. Every meeting of the congress is a long-awaited historical event. The current congress is being held in the year of the 25th anniversary of the World Congress of Tatars.

Meanwhile, the congress has proved its efficiency and proved itself as an organization that is able to deal with the preservationof  thelanguage, culture, and traditions of Tatar people.  It has also become an important factor of nation building.

The congress has united all people, which are seriously concerned about their nation and future. It has been implementing many successful projects for a quarter of the century already.

Quite a number of significant events, such as All-Russia meeting of entrepreneurs from Tatar villages, World forum of Tatar women, “Business partners of Tatarstan”, and All-Russia congress of Tatar historians are held with the auspices of the Republic. 

The forums of Tatar scientists, teachers, festivals “Idelyoldyzlary”, “Ural sandugachy”, “Duslykzhyry”, “Tan yoldyzy”, “Kozge Irtyshmonnary”, the international festival of historical and cultural heritage of Siberian Tatars “Iskerdzhien”, the International contest “Tatar kyzy”, All-Russia contest of journalists and mass media “Tatar spirit and pen” are widely known.

The Internet studio “Donya” of the World Congress of Tatars has been working since 2014. Suchprogramsas “Tatarlar”, “Khalkymminem”and the monthly newspaper “Khalkymminem” should also be mentioned.

I would like to note interesting initiatives of foreign and regional organizations: the Congress of Tatars of Kazakhstan, Tatar public cultural and educational center of Tashkent, the association “Tugantel”, Assemblies of peoples of Kyrgyzstan. Tatar public organizations in Turkey, Finland, Canada, Australia, and China are doing a very significant job. Regional organizations of Ulyanovsk, Chelyabinsk, Orenburg, Astrakhan, Kurgan regions, Chuvash Republic, Novosibirsk, Saratov, Samara regions and Bashkortostan Republic are making their considerable contribution, too.

A special emphasis is put on the work with the youth. The World forum of Tatar youth is becoming more popular. This sphere should be developing in future. We should also use opportunities of new forms of cooperation, first of all, information and communication technologies. Tatar social networks are expanding. For example, social network on Instagram unites more than 130,000 users, Vkontakte – more than 430, 000.

Major efforts are taken to promote our national holiday Sabantui.  Holding of the European, Federal and All-Russia village Sabantui has become a good tradition. This holiday has been recently celebrated in Astrakhan and Penza.

This year Sabantui was celebrated in 59 Russian regions and 32 foreign countries. It has become an outstanding event in the life of our compatriots.

It is the result of big job carried out by the congress, the republic, Russian regions, the support of authorities of foreign countries, and activity of a lot of volunteers.

Sabantui shows our compatriots and citizens of foreign countries the culture and traditions of the Tatars. The holiday has become national and cultural heritage. We should raise the issue of the inscription of Sabantui in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. I suppose that you will support this idea.

I would also like to mention the annual Forum of Tatar religious figures. Islam has always been an integral part of the life of Tatar people.

Being a place for discussing topical issues and making agreed decisions, this forum counters threats of modern time.

People are the main achievement of the congress. I express my gratitude to all participants of the congress. Youarethefutureofourpeople, people, who are deeply worried about the preservation and development of our language, rich culture and traditions.

I want to note a hard work of the heads of the Executive committee of the World Congress of Tatars – Indus RizakovichTagirov and RinatZinnurovichZakirov.

Besides, TaufikKarimov in Kazakhstan, RishatNabiullin in Uzbekistan, Rustam Sadri in Australia, Bari Dianov and VeneraBagizova in Germany, TursuntaiGaleev and Abdulla Abbas in China, GulsinaUlmaskulova in Kyrgyzstan, TairasKuznetsovas in Lithuania,  Atik Ali in Finland and many other people make a considerable contribution to the work of the congress.

AnverAlmaev (Astrakhan), TamirAlimbaev (Omsk), VagizFaizullin (Krasnoyarsk), Amir Gareev (Novosibirsk), FaritGibatdinov (Chuvashia), NurullaSattarov (Tyumen), Lena Kolesnikova (Chelyabinsk), RamisSafin (Ulyanovsk), BakirAkzegitov (Penza), KamilAblyazov (Saratov), LyutsiyaVafina (Bashkortostan), Marat Yunusov (Kurgan) effectively work in the regions.

The congress successfully works with the federal national and cultural autonomy of the Tatars. IldarIrekovichGilmutdinov has been the head of the organization for many years. We express our big gratitude to him, too.

The activity of the Republic aimed at supporting Tatars living outside Tatarstan is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan. Wherever Tatars live they consider Tatarstan their historical motherland. Therefore, it is our duty to preserve and develop the language, culture and traditions.

We put special emphasis on the work with regions and countries, where Tatars live, try to support projects of the World Congress of Tatars. We also render support through ministries of culture, education and science. The newspaper “Bezberge” is published, the TV channel “TNV-planet” works, children’s channel is being developed, and some changes have taken place in the Tatar version of Tatar-inform agency. The Tatar website has started working in .tatar domain. The Internet portal “Center of Tatar literature” has started working. It comprises more than 1100 books.

Government agreements and protocols facilitate the support of Tatar language, culture and traditions. Tatarstan has signed 19 intergovernmental agreements with foreign countries and 74 with Russian regions. We support our compatriots under these agreements, too.

Meetings with Tatar community are always included in the itinerary of the visits of the leadership of the republic to Russian regions and foreign countries. Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey ViktorovichLavrov has appreciated this work. I want to express my gratitude to the ministry for continuous support of our initiatives.

Tatars are vitally interested in strong Russia that guarantees successful development of national languages, cultures and traditions of peoples nationwide.

Our national leader - the President of the country Vladimir Putin is a reliable guarantor in these issues. His stand is consistent and is aimed at the support of ethno-cultural development of people, and peacekeeping.

Recognition of Tatarstan in the international arena has become a result of proactive efforts of the Republic and wide public. The biggest Russian and international forums and competitions are held in Kazan. The Republic is an investment attractive region and develops partner relations with 145 countries. Moreover, it is traditionally among leading regions in Russia under the main macroeconomic criteria.

Successful implementation of major projects such as the 1000th anniversary of Kazan, World summer Universiade, World Aquatics Championship, and Confederations Cup helped to increase the recognition of Tatarstan. The Republic will host games of the group stage of FIFA World Cup 2018, WorldSkills Championship 2019, and the 2022 FINA Short Course World Swimming Championships.

Tatarstan significantly emphasizes the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. Three of twenty nine UNESCO sites are located within the Republic. They are: the historical and architectural complex the Kazan Kremlin, Bolgar historical and archeological complex, the Assumption Cathedral and monastery of the island town of Sviyazhsk.

Successful development of the Republic and reconstruction of unique sites increase tourist attractiveness. Tatarstan is one of the leading regions in the sphere of tourism. By results of the previous year, the tourist flow reached 3 million people.

The complexity of the modern world, a lot of negative processes influence ethno-cultural development of nations.  It is highly important to counter these challenges by supporting the best initiatives and projects, which facilitate the preservation of Tatar language, culture and traditions. Unfortunately, sometimes state and municipal authorities do not understand the importance of this work. We count on more proactive and creative work of public organizations and the support of the federal center. It would be right if these topical issues were reflected in the new law about state national policy of the Russian Federation that is currently being drafted. 

The preservation of native language is a very complicated task. I assume that people, who do not know the language due to different reasons, should still feel the unity of our nation. The Tatars are united by strong national spirit, commitment to values of national culture, heritage and unique traditions. I am sure that the drive for cultural development and our national spirit will encourage people to study the language. Resources such as “Ana tele” and “Tatar ile” play an important role.

The Tatar world is rich in the names that are widely known in the world and Russia. The fact that we are Tatars unites us. You all know Nadir Davlet from Turkey, OkanDaher from Finland, RaisahanymAtambaeva from Kyrgyzstan, Idel and YulayShamiloglu from the USA, SofyaGubaidullina and Rashid Syunyaev from Germany, and others.

We are proud of such famous Tatars as Roald and RenadSagdeev, MahmutGareev, AlbinaShagimuratova, Aida Garifullina, Robert Nigmatullin, Renat and RasimAkchurin, ShamilTarpishev. GayazIshaki, Sadri Maksudi, MirsaitSultangaliev, Husain Yamashevwho left their trace in the world history. The constellation of cultural and art workers, our scientists is well known in the world.

Dear participants of the congress!

It is important that the forms of work of the congress meet current challenges, address the experience of all organizations - members of the congress.

Appreciating the role of the executive committee, we should pay more attention to the formation of a representative body that will include the most outstanding figures of Tatar organizations. Some changes should be introduced in the organization charter. I think that the creation of the Council called “Millishura” is necessary. It should be managed by a respected leader with wide range of powers. It is important that he would have a few deputies that can be elected at the congress today. Besides, due to broad geography of organizations we should provide the opportunity of more thematic participation of representatives of Russian regions and foreign countries in making managerial decisions. The executive committee could be an administrative body and its head would keep the position of deputy chairman of “Millishura”.

Dear friends!

The programme of plenary session is very eventful. A lot of topical issues connected with the development of the nation will be discussed today.  I am sure that interesting and affirmative approaches to their solution will be found.

You will also be able to learn about innovative potential of the republic and its regions, our achievements and life of Tatarstan citizens. I am sure that meetings will be productive.

The State Council and leaders of the Republic realize how important Tatarstan is for Tatar world. We will try to make our joint work productive.

The destiny of Tatars is in our hands. How we will be preserving and developing the language, culture and traditions, what place Tatars will take in the future depends on us.

I wish us all a very fruitful and successful work.

Thank you for your attention!”