The president of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, met with Finnish Ambassador to the Russian Federation Rene Nyberg on June 16, the Tatar-Bashkir Service's Kazan Bureau reported.

After the meeting, Amb. Nyberg told RFE/RL that his visit to Kazan was mainly the result of persistent efforts by Okan Daher, the chairman of the Helsinki Tatar Community.

Ambassadors to the Russian Federation rarely visit Tatarstan. President Shaimiev and Amb. Nyberg discussed the possibility of implementing Finnish energy-saving technologies in Tatarstan and attracting more foreign investment to local industries.

Amb. Nyberg noted during the meeting that current Russian legislation does not provide sufficient guarantees to protect foreign investments -- a situation that is expected to improve with Russia's planned entry into the World Trade Organization.

Source: RFE/RL