Mintimer Shaimiev awarded with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, the Third Degree

8 February 2010, 11:47

(Kazan, February 8, Tatar-inform). The Russian Federation President Dmitry Medvedev met with the incumbent President of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev on February 6.

Head of the state began the conversation from expressing gratitude to Mintimer Shaimiev. “I would like to begin our talk from words of grand gratitude I for long years of governing Tatarstan as a subject of the Russian Federation in different circumstances, in the period of the 90’s the difficult dramatic changes,” D. Medvedev said. “Tatarstan is one of our country’s leading subjects, a prosperous region. The credit for this goes directly to you,” Russia’s President said addressing M. Shaimiev.

RF President informed he had signed the Edict on awarding M. Shaimiev with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, the Third Degree The President reminded that M. Shaimiev had already received this order of the first and second degrees. “Taking into account the degrees that you already have, I think this order will be an appropriate assessment of your work,” D. Medvedev said.

Tatarstan President thanked Russia’s President for the award. Mintimer Shaimiev also thanked RF President for supporting Rustam Minnikhanov’s candidacy for Tatarstan head post.

Presidential term of 73-year-old Mintimer Shaimiev, who has been heading the republic since 1991, expires on March 25, 2010. He made a request to D. Medvedev not to consider his candidacy for the new term and indicated “it is necessary to give an opportunity to the younger generation of politicians”.

D. Medvedev introduced Rustam Minnikhanov’s candidacy for consideration of the republican parliament in January 27, On February 4, Tatarstan State Council unanimously vested him with the presidential authorities.

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