KAZAN, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - The ancient capital of the Russian federal republic of Tatarstan will host the heads of CIS member countries and the members of Russia's State Council Friday, a Kazan administration official said. The guests, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, are in town for a CIS summit, a State Council meeting and celebrations dedicated to the city's 1000th anniversary.
According to local authorities, more than 13,000 officials will attend the celebrations scheduled for August 26-27. The same number is expected to attend the festivities throughout the weekend, until August 30.
The program of the festivities includes the tour of the Kazan Kremlin where the Kul Sharif Mosque and the Cathedral of the Annunciation are located side by side as a symbol of the peaceful coexistence of Islam and Christianity.
Security has been tightened in Kazan during the festivities. Additional police and security-related units from the republic and other Russian regions, including Moscow, have been brought to the city, bringing the number of officers on hand for the events to 15,000.
