Presentation of the book "From the soul to the soul" was held in the Kremlin - selected speeches and interviews by Mintimer Shaimiev

Today at the Kazan Kremlin the presentation of the book "From the soul - for the soul. Selected speeches and interviews   by the First President of the Republic of Tatarstan, UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue Mintimer Shaimiev".

The publication of the book is timed to the Kazan Forum on Intercultural Dialogue under the aegis of the State Adviser of the Republic of Tatarstan, UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue M.Sh.Shaimiev. The forum in Kazan is held on September 4-7.

The participants of the Kazan Forum on Intercultural Dialogue were invited to the presentation: UNESCO representatives, UNESCO Special Envoys and Goodwill Ambassadors, experts from UNESCO advisory bodies, international experts and members of scientific communities on intercultural dialogue, national and regional coordinators of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network, scientists and cultural figures RF and RT.

Head of the President's Office Asgat Safarov, Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan, Head of the Staff of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan Shamil Gafarov, member of the Council for Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation, Ildar Gilmutdinov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Nationalities Affairs, Council of RT, executive director of the "Renaissance" Foundation Tatiana Larionova and other officials.

The new book in Russian, Tatar and English presents performances, articles and interviews by the First President of the Republic of Tatarstan, UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue M.Sh.Shaimiev devoted to strengthening interfaith and interethnic peace and harmony, establishing a consistent and constructive dialogue between peoples, preservation of historical and cultural heritage and promotion of the values and ideals of UNESCO.

The presentation was conducted by Eleonora Mitrofanova, Head of the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).

"In your articles and speeches, in the intonations of any phrase in life itself, you have always been a large statesman of the Russian Federation, and for today the only special envoy in Russia for intercultural dialogue. You are known as an authoritative respected politician, a bright multifaceted person, you are valued in Russia, valued for wisdom, consistency and thoroughness in words, "she said in her opening remarks.

Deputy Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan Yuri Kamaltynov, noting that he read the first part of the book with special interest, as he witnessed many events, even in direct participants, shared his impressions of this part of the book, which includes selected speeches, articles and interviews that served to the formation and strengthening of interfaith and interethnic peace and harmony in the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation in 1990-2010.

"The main idea of all these materials can be reduced to the following words by Mintimer Sharipovich:" If you respect your traditions, your language, your nationality, then respect others, this will only be peace and harmony. This is the basis of the fundamentals, "he quoted.

"The book will be interesting to a wide range of readers and it would be great if it were in everyone's library, so the one thousand copies of the book seem rather small," said Yuri Kamaltynov. "It reflects the powerful historical path of the republic in the last 20-25 years, which everyone needs to know".

At the presentation   spoke  Director of the State Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Preserve "Kazan Kremlin" Zilya Valeyeva, Rector of the UNESCO Institute for Peace Culture, President of the International Humanitarian Academy "Europe-Asia", Professor KFU Engel Tagirov, Counselor of the Office for Cultural Affairs and Antiquities of Bahrain Munir Bouchenaki, Expert of ICOMOS, Professor, Doctor of the Department of Architectural Engineering of the Polytechnic School of the Thrac University  named after  Democrita (Greece) Alcibiades Prepis.

In conclusion, the floor was taken by RT State Councilor Mintimer Shaimiev, he joked that he had never faced the fact that he was praised for four days in a row. Mintimer Shaimiev thanked those who spoke for the kind words, he also expressed gratitude to the team that managed to create and unite in a short period of the Vozrozhdeniye Foundation's activity, gathered talented people who realized themselves in this project, opened up and became different, now they create new museums , work creatively and  for  creation. It is necessary that they continue to serve in the interests of the country and our native republic. This is wealth, Mintimer Shaimiev noted.

He also thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO Sergey Lavrov, who became the author of the opening address to the book and highly appreciated the activity of M.Sh.Shaimiev.

He also expressed gratitude to  compiler and project manager - Nursyui  Shaidullina,  editor of the texts in English and the translator Tatyana Kazachenko,  art editor of the publication Rosalina Musabirova,  head of the Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications Tatmedia Ayrat Zaripov,  general director of the State Unitary Enterprise "Tatar Book" publishing house "to Ildar Sagdatshin, general director of PIK" Idel-press "Anas Askarov.

Mintimer Shaimiev explained why the book is published in three languages: "As you know, I became the UNESCO Special Envoy for Intercultural Dialogue. There are 12 people working in the world on several fronts. I, the young Special Envoy, get acquainted with the rest, study their activities, for which they are awarded such an honorable mission. At the same time, there is a need for others to know and understand who is who - according to primary sources, but there are a lot of them, so this book appeared in a concentrated form. An integral part of this book contributes to the fulfillment of my new mission. It's good that the trust has been given to a representative from Russia, from Tatarstan to a guy from the village of Anyakovo, "concluded Mintemer Shaimiev." I often say that if you do not like people, do not go to power. The whole point is to try to have patience for understanding each person. And, of course, it is encouraging if they understand you. The value of dialogue in this. We can become better if we are tolerant to each other and try to understand each other. "

Press Service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan