Rustam Minnikhanov: We must make every effort to preserve our native language

On April 26, speaking at a solemn event dedicated to the Day of the Native Language and 132nd  birth anniversary of Gadbulla Tukay, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said: “We need our native language and we must make every effort to preserve it and pass it on to the next generations.”

Speaking from the stage of the Musa Jalil Tatar Academic State Opera and Ballet Theatre, he congratulated the audience and all Tatarstan citizens on the day of the native language and the birthday of the great Tatar poet.

Minnikhanov noted that the Tatar language, the issues of its preservation have a special place in Tukay’s books.

"We are very much concerned about our native language. Every year, ethnicities lose their native languages throughout the world. Unfortunately, there are people in our country who think differently concerning the language issue,” Tatarstan President said. In this regard, he reminded that the regional State Council discussed a bill on the voluntary studying of the native language at the meeting yesterday.

Minnikhanov said that he believes that it is necessary to discuss the language issue.

"If we do not preserve our language, who will need it? We need it. We must preserve our native language, culture, heritage, which was passed on from generation to generation,” Tatarstan President emphasized.

According to Minnikhanov, people need to unite their efforts on this issue. "We need to be united to preserve our language and work hard on this," he added.

Minnikhanov also noted that schools, theatres and other cultural facilities, television should preserve the identity of the Tatar people.