Award of the First President of the Republic of Tatarstan M. Sh. Shaimiev. Commemorative sign of Harvard University.
On October 3, 1994, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev visited Harvard University in Boston in the USA. There he gave a lecture “The future of the Russian Federation: a view from Tatarstan”.
During the visit, Shaimiev was presented with a commemorative sign of Harvard University. It consists of a metal shield, surrounded by a laurel crown — a symbol of inviolability, solid glory, greatness and victory and fixed on a dark stone base. Three open books on the shield form a triangle with the base up, each with one syllable, which together form the word “veritas” — “truth” in Latin. This is the motto of Harvard University. Below, under the shield, there is a long narrow tape with the inscription — Harvard.
Shaimiev’s lecture was held in the famous university hall ‘Forum’, on the rostrum of which famous world politicians spoke. The report was broadcast twice on national television.
In an interview, the President of Tatarstan was asked what feelings he had experienced during the lecture. He said: ‘I was worrying, of course. Not so much during the performance but before its start. The pages of the well-read text, discussed with the assistants long ago, laid in the pocket of my jacket. It would seem, read it, and that’s it. But I knew everything is perceived quite differently when you speak with a piece of paper — with much less attention, and ultimately with insufficient trust. Therefore, I figured this: who, in fact, knows the state of affairs in the republic better than me? It turns out to be sincere when you speak without a piece of paper. The improvisation was appreciated’.
After Shaimiev had finished his speech, he heard applause. Neither him nor the organizers of the event expected of it. After that the lecturer was explained how unique the situation was — usually the Harvard audience is stingy with emotions and rarely expresses impressions from the report, especially of an approving nature.
On the same day, Shaimiev met Harvard Marshal Richard Hunt — they discussed issues of cooperation in the field of science and education. The President of Tatarstan left an entry in the book of honoured guests of the university.
On October 3, 1994, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev visited Harvard University in Boston in the USA. There he gave a lecture “The future of the Russian Federation: a view from Tatarstan”.
During the visit, Shaimiev was presented with a commemorative sign of Harvard University. It consists of a metal shield, surrounded by a laurel crown — a symbol of inviolability, solid glory, greatness and victory and fixed on a dark stone base. Three open books on the shield form a triangle with the base up, each with one syllable, which together form the word “veritas” — “truth” in Latin. This is the motto of Harvard University. Below, under the shield, there is a long narrow tape with the inscription — Harvard.
Shaimiev’s lecture was held in the famous university hall ‘Forum’, on the rostrum of which famous world politicians spoke. The report was broadcast twice on national television.
In an interview, the President of Tatarstan was asked what feelings he had experienced during the lecture. He said: ‘I was worrying, of course. Not so much during the performance but before its start. The pages of the well-read text, discussed with the assistants long ago, laid in the pocket of my jacket. It would seem, read it, and that’s it. But I knew everything is perceived quite differently when you speak with a piece of paper — with much less attention, and ultimately with insufficient trust. Therefore, I figured this: who, in fact, knows the state of affairs in the republic better than me? It turns out to be sincere when you speak without a piece of paper. The improvisation was appreciated’.
After Shaimiev had finished his speech, he heard applause. Neither him nor the organizers of the event expected of it. After that the lecturer was explained how unique the situation was — usually the Harvard audience is stingy with emotions and rarely expresses impressions from the report, especially of an approving nature.
On the same day, Shaimiev met Harvard Marshal Richard Hunt — they discussed issues of cooperation in the field of science and education. The President of Tatarstan left an entry in the book of honoured guests of the university.
