WELCOMING of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Nurgali uly Minnikhanov to the participants and guests of the festival of Sabantuy – 2014 in LONDON.
DEAR COMPATRIOTS! DEAR FRIENDS!
I cordially greet all participants and guests of the Tatar national holiday Sabantuy!
Originating in the depths of centuries as a “plow festival”, today it has become for our people an inexhaustible living source that nourishes the national culture, ensures the spiritual continuity of generations. In Sabantuy the best qualities of the Tatar people can be found, they’re diligence and will to win, good-neighbourliness and hospitality.
Traditionally, the public square or garden of Sabantuy unites representatives of all nationalities and religions, adds to its participants a lot of positive emotions and forces, serves the noble cause of popularising the Tatar culture, strengthening peace and harmony.
Today, Sabantuy is widely celebrated all over the world. This year it will be held in 56 regions of Russia and 24 foreign countries. The Federal Sabantuy is being held, gathering strength in rural Eurasia and international Sabantuy. And everywhere the holiday is a connecting thread of Tatars with numerous tribesmen with a common historical homeland. In this regard, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the representatives of the state and municipal authorities of the countries and the regions of compact living of the Tatars, which make it possible to hold such a bright, fascinating celebration.
The Sabantuy celebrates its special and actual sounding in the Year of Culture, and in the Turkic-speaking countries the distinctiveness is given to it by the fact that in 2014 Kazan is the cultural capital of the Turkic world. I am convinced that due to tireless ascetics of the Tatar national culture, organizers and enthusiasts, as well as ordinary citizens taking part in the holiday, he will enter many bright pages into the cultural and historical chronicle of our people.
I sincerely wish you all good health, happiness, peace, good and prosperity! Let the unique spirit of Sabantuy for a long time charge you with joy and optimism!
President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Nurgali uly Minnikhanov