NEWS

Remarks by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Marat Tazhin

at the US launch of “The Kazakhstan Way”

by President Nursultan Nazarbayev

(Washington D.C., October 1, 2008)

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great honor for me to address such a respected audience while being a part of the presentation of the book “Kazakhstan Way” written by the President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan.

The book being presented here today is a gripping narration of how this way was chosen and how we walked along this way to get from a backward and crisis-ridden Soviet republic to a modern and prosperous independent state, from collapse of the planned economy with 3,000% annual inflation to a dynamic liberal market economy and to a fundamental transformation of social consciousness in favor of the idea of building an independent Kazakhstan.

Nursultan Nazarbayev is the best source to tell this story as he was at the origins of present day Kazakh statehood and at the helm of the young nation, leading it through all the hardships and challenges. The Strategy of the country’s development until the year 2030, adoption of Kazakhstan’s Constitution and introduction of the national currency, development of the country’s oil and gas resources as well as of the most successful banking system in the region, decision to move the capital city to Astana and Kazakhstan’s space ambitions – all these vital milestones have found their place in the book along with President Nazarbayev’s personal thoughts and recollections.

16 years ago there was much talk in the country about the best ways of political and social development, reforms and democratic changes. We were absolutely confident that liberalization of a social system may succeed only on a solid ground of economic development.

Poverty, being a poor accompanier of democracy often appears to be the first precondition for the advent of social fragmentation and prevalence of ochlocratic principles.

Within a short period of time unpopular but prudent and strategic reforms were successfully implemented thanks to which in a free society with market economy that we are so proud of.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We inherited from our totalitarian past the society to be extremely sophisticated in terms of its ethnic diversity, which was ready to blow up any time into chaotic Brownian motion process. Therefore preserving an interethnic accord was an absolute value for us if not to say a condition to survive.

It took us tremendous efforts and extraordinary measures to prevent any unpredictable developments and to create indispensable social institutes of interethnic interaction. The past 16 years of independence made it clear that there was no alternative to this way.

Another factor of not less importance to ensure the sustainability of the Kazakh society was its diversity in terms of religious beliefs. While developing the interreligious dialogue and tolerance we were following the classical principle of democracy that is about meeting the will of the majority with due respect of minority interests. Kazakhstan’s experience of implementing this formula into extremely delicate field of interreligious relations has received the implicit approval of the highest hierarchs of global confessions at the two Forums of the leaders of the world religions, which were held in Kazakhstan.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The further behind we leave the troublesome and uneasy 90-s, the more tempted we feel to portray Kazakhstan’s development as a series of successes and achievements.

High pace of economic development, abundant natural resources, solid energy potential, middle-class dominated society, well developed human capital, thriving civil society and balanced foreign policy position make us to be optimistic about our future.

The continuation of political reforms aiming further democratization of social life is an important element of strategic development plans for Kazakhstan.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Undoubtedly, our way was, in many aspects, the one of trials and errors. But I welcome everybody to read the book and decide for oneself if we could make a better choice.

In conclusion I would like to quote Britain’s former Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Margaret Thatcher, who wrote in her outstanding Foreword to the publication: “In this book, President Nazarbayev tells the story of those years of transition and of his central part in the decisions which have shaped a new direction for Kazakhstan. And there is much to praise”.

Thank you for your attention.

Date of issue: 2008-10-01