October 17, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov met with representatives of the activists of Tatar public organizations in the Republic of Belarus. We remind that Rustam Minnikhanov has arrived tonight in Minsk on a working visit.
The meeting with compatriots opened chairman of the executive committee of the World Congress of Tatars (WCT) Rinat Zakirov. He briefly spoke about the work carried out by the WCT with the Tatar public organizations in different countries around the world.
Welcoming the participants of the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov said that today representatives of the Tatar community are a good helpers in developing cooperation between Tatarstan and Belarus. He thanked for the fact that far from the historical homeland local Tatars managed to preserve the traditions, customs, native language and culture of their people.
You have kept the spirit of the Tatar people, Rustam Minnikhanov said, addressing the participants of the meeting, it is important in a modern world, and is always very nice to hear that you’re living in Belarus, in other countries, you consider yourself a Tatar.
Rustam Minnikhanov also reminded that in Russia Tatars are the second largest nation. He said that today in Tatarstan live only 30 percent of the Tatars, and the rest – in various parts of the globe.
Tatarstan President expressed confidence that the Tatars living in Belarus will continue to promote the expansion of relations between Belarus and
Tatarstan, would contribute to the strengthening of relations between the two countries and peoples.
During the meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov invited everyone to visit Tatarstan. Recent years, interesting tourist routes were opened in the republic, he said, including those relating to the history and religion of the Tatars.
He invited the Tatar youth of Belarus to take part in various youth Muslim festivals, which are held in Tatarstan, the international youth educational forum “Selet” in profile shifts of youth camp “Selet”. Systematic work is conducted by the World Congress of Tatars among fellow Tatars living in CIS and Baltic countries, in attracting talented young people to the universities of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov reminded.
He briefly spoke about the program online learning Tatar language in the Internet “Ana’s tele,” broadcasted by “TNV – Planet” satellite TV. All this is done in order to unite the Tatars living in the world, he said that they did not forget their roots, on a minor home.
During the meeting, chairman of the international public association “Tatar-Bashkir cultural heritage “Chishma” Elvira Levshevich told about the activities of Tatar public organizations in Belarus. For example, in Belarus are working Grodno city branch of “Duslyk” IPO “Chishma”, Vitebsk branch of the NGO “TBKN” Chishma “, public association of Tatars of Grodno, Muslim religious association in Belarus, as well as the republican religious association “Spiritual Administration of Muslims in Republic of Belarus “and others.
Elvira Levshevich said that national holiday Sabantui is traditionally held in Belarus, folk festivals, which involve creative collectives of Tatars – ensemble “Duslyk”, ensemble “Leysen” and others.
The meeting participants also informed Rustam Minnikhanov that previously a direct rail connection has existed – train “Minsk – Kazan”, now this route is closed. They asked to assist in the resumption of the direct railway route.
In addition, there was a request for assistance in equipment (tent) for Belarusian Tatar public organizations to participate in the festival of national cultures in Grodno, a distinctive feature of the Festival – the organization of national farmsteads, where representatives of each people tell about the life, traditions, treat by dishes of national cuisine.
Rustam Minnikhanov said that the first mosque to be opened in Minsk in near future.
At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Tatar public organizations sang songs and poems in the Tatar language.
Rustam Minnikhanov, handed Tatartsan President Letters of Thanks to most active members of the Tatar community of Belarus, members of the public “Chishma” – for the preservation of national traditions, heritage and contribution to the development and strengthening of friendly relations between nations.
The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan – Minister of
Information and Communication of the Republic of Tatarstan Roman Shaikhutdinov, RT President’s aide Radik Gimatdinov, chairman of the executive committee of the World Congress of Tatars Rinat Zakirov, chairman of the RT Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shamil Ageev, Director General of PJSC “Tatneft” Nail Maganov and others.
