14/02/2011 President
Strasbourg, 14.02.2011 – The Republic of Tatarstan (Russian Federation) can serve as an example of tolerance and peaceful and prosperous coexistence of cultures and religions for the whole region, said Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), speaking at the end of a two-day visit to the Republic’s capital Kazan (11-12 February 2011).
He expressed his appreciation to the President of the Republic and its leadership for their efforts to develop and preserve the cultures and traditions of about 115 nationalities and ethnic groups.
At the same time Tatarstan, with its system of broad autonomy, can also be a model for organising relations between the federal center and autonomous entities, Mr Çavuşoğlu said.
The President recalled that the Assembly is due to hold a major debate on the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue during its April plenary session.
During his visit Mr Çavuşoğlu met the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers Ildar Khalikov, members of the State Council, representatives of political parties and national and cultural associations in the Republic, religious leaders and students at the University of Kazan.