Ambassador Burns Visits Kazan. On Tuesday, February 7, 2006 Ambassador William Burns paid his first visit to Kazan since taking up his post. This is the latest in a series of trips that the Ambassador has made to better acquaint himself with life outside of Moscow. In Kazan, the Ambassador met with President Shaymiyev, Muslim Religious Board Chair Mufti Ishakov, and members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also visited the Kazan American Center, where he had the opportunity to speak with Minister of Culture Valeyeva and approximately fifty alumni of programs sponsored by the U.S. Government. At Kazan University, Ambassador Burns was introduced to the University's partnership with Rutgers University in the United States and visited the Center for Democratic Education.