Module 2 The Republic of Tatarstan
“You wouldn’t believe it,
but I would rather live in Mamadysh
rather than in Venetia, Rome or Naples…“
From a letter of Leo Tolstoy
17 March 1786
PREVIEW
A. What do you know about Tatarstan? Do the quiz and say which of the data were surprising for you?
1) Tatarstan is situated approximately 800 km … of Moscow.
a) east
b) west
c) north
2) Islam was established as a state religion in ….
a) 1552
b) 922
c) 1147
3) During the years of the World War II, Boris Pasternak used to live in ….
a) Naberezhniye Chelny
b) Chistopol
c) Bavly
4) Kazan was captured by the troops of Emel'yan Pugachev in ….
a) 1774
b) 1147
c) 1552
5) The second largest town of Tatarstan is ….
a) Bugulma
b) Chelny
c) Nizhnekamsk
6) On … Mintimer Shaimiyev was elected the first President of the Republic of Tatarstan.
a) 25th March, 1990
b) 25th March, 2005
c) 12th June, 1991
7) There are about … small lakes in the Republic.
a) 8,000
b) 4,500
c) 1,000
8) The Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan was adopted on ….
a) September 5, 1991
b) November 6, 1992
c) June 12, 1990
READING: TATARSTAN
A. Read and translate the text.
History
Tatarstan is one of the most industrialized republics of the Russian Federation in terms of population and economic potential. The process of inhabiting the territory of the republic began at the time of the early Palaeolithic age (about 100,000 years ago). In the 8th – 9th centuries, the tribes of ancient Bulgars, ancestors of the modern Tatars, began to populate the Volga Region. The first state – the Volga-Kama Bulgaria – was set up at the end of the 9th - beginning of the 10th centuries. In the 13th century this territory became a part of powerful Zolotaya Orda (Golden Hord) State. The collapse of the Golden Hord in the 30-40s of the 14th century resulted in the formation of new states including the Kazan Khanate. Kazan became the capital of this state. The Kazan Khanate ceased its existence in October 1552, when troops of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) conquered Kazan. As the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic it was established on 27th May, 1920 on the territory of the former Kazan Province. Seventy years later, on 30th August, 1990 the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Republic was signed.
Geographical position
The Republic of Tatarstan is located in the center of the East-European Plain where Europe meets Asia and two large rivers - the Volga and the Kama – carry their joint waters to the Caspian Sea. The Republic of Tatarstan covers the territory of 67,800 sq.km and stretches for 290 km from North to South and for 460 km from West to East. Climate in the Republic is moderate-continental with warm, sometimes hot summers and moderate cold winters.
The capital
The capital of the Republic is Kazan, its industrial, commercial and cultural center, a city of more than 1.1 mln people. There are 19 cities and towns and 3,100 settlements in the Republic. The total population of the republic is about 3.8 mln people. Peculiarity of the Republic of Tatarstan and its culture is in that they reflect two different civilizations: eastern and western, and two different religions: Moslem and Christian (Orthodox). Tatarstan is a multinational republic, as it is home to representatives of more than 100 nationalities: the Tatars (over 50%), the Russians (nearly 42%), the Chuvashes, the Mordvinians, the Mari, the Udmurts, etc.
The government
The head of the government in Tatarstan is the President. Tatarstan’s unicameral State Council is elected for 5 years as well and has 100 seats: 50 are for representatives of the parties, other 50 are for deputies from the republic’s localities. The official languages are Tatar and Russian. The state emblem represents a winged snow leopard with a round shield on his side. The national flag is a horizontal tricolor with stripes of green, white and red.
Industrial regions
The main industries of the Republic are oil production, petrochemistry, aircraft industry, mechanical engineering and instrument-making. The territory of the Republic is divided into several economic regions.
Old industrial Northwest region with Kazan and Zelenodolsk as its centre. Major industries of the region are machine-building, instrument-making, chemical and light industries. OAO Kazanorgsintez is one of the giants of petrochemical center of Tatarstan. It produces more than a half of the whole polyethylene production of the country. Produce quality meets the European standards and is exported to many countries. Kazan Automotive Industrial Enterprise (KMPO) has more than 60 years experience in aircraft engine production. It has been producing 65% of all engines for civil planes, as well as the engines for bombers and helicopters.
New industrial Northeast region with Naberezhniye Chelny and Nizhnekamsk as its centre. Major industries of the region are power engineering, automobile and chemical industries. OAO Kama Automobile Works (KamAZ), situated in the city of Naberezhniye Chelny, is considered to be the best Russian exporter of heavy-duty trucks. These large capacity lorries work under any road and climatic conditions. KamAZ has 6 enterprises located in Russia, the Ukraine and Kazakhstan. The products of KamAZ are used in over 83 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. As for Nizhnekamsk, it is the main chemical center of Tatarstan. OAO Nizhnekamskneftekhim is the largest producer and exporter of petrochemical products in Eastern Europe and one of the largest budget-forming enterprises of the Republic of Tatarstan. OAO Nizhnekamskshina is one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the CIS.
The Southeast oil-extracting region. It is oil that made our republic well-known all over the world. The main oil-producing towns are Almetyevsk, Leninogorsk and Bugulma. Tatneft, located in Almetyevsk (a city of about 151,000 people) is the main oil-producing company of the Republic. Since 1994, it exists as a joint-stock company.
The North, Central, South and Southwest parts of the Republic are rural agricultural regions. Agricultural sector employs more than 16% of economically active population. Agriculture of the Republic covers the local needs in the basic food stuffs. 4.5 mln hectares of land are cultivated which is equal to 67% of the Republic’s territory. Main grain crops are wheat, rye, barley, oats and buckwheat. Fodder crops cover 36% of the sowing area. The Republic is also well-known for its cattle-breeding. Production of such staples as meat, potatoes, milk, eggs per capita in Tatarstan is 15-60% higher than in Russia.
The Republic of Tatarstan ranks number one among the Volga regions in terms of foreign trade turnover and foreign economic activity. The foreign relations of Tatarstan have expanded especially over the past decade. It has signed agreements with Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Germany, Australia, etc. The main export products are crude oil, petrochemical items, compressors, optical devices, trucks, automobile tyres and spare parts.