Geography:The Republic of Tatarstan is situated in the middle of the Volga-Basin at the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers. In the north, it borders Udmurtia, in the west - Mari and Chuvashia, in the east - Bashkkortostan, and in the south - Samara Region. Area: 68,000 km².
People:Population
The population of Tatarstan is 3,7 million, of which 48% are Tatars and 43% Russians. Only 23% of Tatars live in Tatarstan. The Tatars descends from nomadic tribes that migrated westward from southern Siberia between the 10th and the 13th centuries. The term, Tatar, refers to a people its roots from three main ethnic groups of Turkic origin.
Economy
Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed republics of the Russian Federation. It is located in the center of the largest industrial region of the Russian Federation, 800 km east of Moscow. Due to historical, geographical, and natural conditions and other important factors, the Republic of Tatarstan has developed as a major scientific, educational, and industrial center recognized in Russia and worldwide.
During the years of market reform, the economy of Tatarstan underwent significant changes. The majority of property is no longer state owned. Leading industries of the economy, such as oil production and petrochemicals, automotive engineering, power, and others were turned into joint-stock companies.
Tatarstan is the leader in the production of some key industrial goods in Russia.
The republic produces (in % of the total volume for Russia):
* 100% of film, catgut;
* more than 95% of gas turbines;
* about 75% of styrene;
* more than 50% of centrifugal electric pumps for oil production;
* about 50% of diesel trucks, pipe, and thermoplastic pipeline components;
* about 40% of ethylene, polyethylene;
* about 30% of synthetic rubber, automobile tires, felt boots, film materials;
* about 20% of fur hats, gas stoves, benzene, cologne;
* about 14% of household clocks;
* about 9% of oil.
According to the latest Federal statistics, Tatarstan was third in the RF in industrial output in January-August, 2001.
According to the rating of the Volga federal district service, the Republic of Tatarstan gained the lead in the level of socioeconomic development based on the results of 2000. According to Expert magazine, the republic enjoys the least investment risk among seven other Volga regions.
Tatarstan's agroindustrial complex is a priority sector and is supported by the state.
* The republic carries out large-scale social and economic programs, most of which have no counterparts in the Russian Federation, including:
* a program for developing enterprises of the RT petrochemical complex for 1999-2003;
* a program promoting the creation and development of export-oriented and import-substituting production facilities in the RT for the period up to 2003;
* the target programs "Energy savings in the RT for 2000-2005", "Development of land reform in the RT in 2000-2005", "System of regulating relations in the RT commodity markets for 1999-2005";
* programs of targeted social protection of the RT population, gas supply, and demolition of dilapidated housing
Tatarstan is the leader in the Russian Federation in construction of social facilities, such as schools, hospitals, and other institutions in rural areas.
Brief History
The first settlements in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan date back to the Paleolithic period (about 100,000 years ago). In the 8th - 9th centuries, the ancient Bulgar tribes, the ancestors of the modern Tatars, began to populate the Volga region. The first state, Volga-Kama Bulgaria, was set up at the end of the 9th and beginning of the 10th centuries as the first feudal state in northeastern Europe. In 922, Islam was established as the state religion. The Bulgar mosques and medreses (Muslim clerical schools) spread knowledge and culture in the neighboring regions.
In the 13th century, the territory of Volga-Kama Bulgaria was annexed to the Empire of Genghis Khan and then became part of powerful Golden Horde State. The collapse of the Golden Horde in the 1330-1340s resulted in the formation of a number of new states, including the Kazan Khanate. Kazan became the capital of the newly formed state. The Kazan Khanate ended in October.
In 1918 A Tatar-Bashkir Soviet Republic was set up within the Russian federation. The borders of the two republics were drawn arbitrarily, and 75% of the Tatar population were left outside their nominal republic.
In 1990 Tatarstan became the first of the autonomous republics to adopt a declaration of sovereignty. This declaration was not recognised by the Russian Federation.
In 1992 The Tatarstan government organised a referendum on the sovereignty of Tatarstan. 61% voted in favour of state sovereignty and adopted its own republican constitution.
In 1994 The presidents of Russia and Tatarstan signed a bilateral power-sharing treaty on behalf on the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, respectively. The treaty recognises extensive self-government rights of Tatarstan, apparently beyond those enjoyed under the Russian Constitution, yet it falls short of recognising state sovereignty.
In 1995 The economy of Tatarstan began to improve and the standard of living in Tatarstan is higher than in other parts of the Russian Federation.
In 1996 Over 1 000 companies were privatised which supply about 75% of the consumer production within Tatarstan.
The positive developments, started in 1995 continue. The special status of the Republic within the Russian Federation is probably one of the reasons for the growing economy in Tatarstan. The republic has actively taken part on behalf of the Russian Federation, in delegations which carried out work for the UN, the Council of Europe and several international organisations.
Organizations:Political System The President is the head of state and highest official in Tatarstan. He heads the executive system of the republic and directs the Cabinet of Ministers, which is the executive and administrative authority. The Cabinet is accountable to the President. The candidacy of a Prime Minister is proposed by the President and approved by the Parliament of Tatarstan. The unicameral State Council (Parliament) is the supreme representative and legislative authority of Tatarstan. Bodies of local self-government are independent within their powers and do not belong to the system of state authorities. Administrative and Territorial Division: 43 regions, 20 towns, 14 of which are under republican jurisdiction, 21 urban communities, 897 village councils of local government.
Statistics:Area: 68 000 km2
Population: 3.7 million (Tatarstan – 48% ethnic Tatars); 6 million ethnic Tatars
Language: Tatar and Russian
Religion: Sunni Muslim
