News

Nursultan Nazarbayev: XXI will be the best century in the history of Kazakhstan. The head of state took part in the celebratory meeting marking 20th anniversary of Independence

Unity, continuity, shared goals

The meeting took place at the Independence Palace, which is a very symbolic venue that has seen a lot of momentous meetings and forums, of global scale too, such as the OSCE Summit, meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers Council. In it met the leading politicians of the planet to discuss topical issues.

The event was attended by more than three thousand guests. They include heads of state agencies, members of the Government, MPs, representatives of diplomatic corps and international organizations, members of the Constitutional Council, Supreme Court justices, representatives of Kazakhstan People's Assembly, Kazakh expats from other countries, the general public from all over the country.

Many of its attendees were awarded orders and medals on the eve of the notable day.

In his speech the President underscored that every citizen should be proud of his country’s rich history.

- And Independence for us is the highest value, a stimulus for strengthening patriotism and nationhood.

- In the years of independence Kazakhstan has achieved a lot. Since 1999 the economy began to show a confident growth. Before 2007, annual GDP growth averaged 10% per year. These were the first fruits of the Development Strategy until 2030. Our country was more successful than other CIS neighbors in the transition to the market. This year Kazakhstan is 47th in the World Bank's Doing Business rating. The aggregate reserves of the National Bank together with National Fund assets make about $ 80 billion.

In 1993 GDP per capita was $ 700, whereas at present it exceeds 11 thousand. In the World Bank classification Kazakhstan joined the group of nations with income above the average. This rate of development and performance improvement has not been observed earlier in the global economy.

- In only 20 years, we have created a great legacy - a strong state, a new economy, national unity, built a new capital - Astana, a miracle of Eurasia. Astana has become a unifying idea, the epicenter of economic, cultural and political life.

Holding in our capital of a historical OSCE summit has enriched the world politics with a new concept "The Spirit of Astana". Almaty is the cradle of Independence, whilst Astana - the cradle of our future. I am grateful to everyone who has worked all these years with me for the benefit of Kazakhstan. I am grateful to all Kazakhstanis for their support, faith and patience, hard work in the name of their Fatherland! - said Nursultan Nazarbayev.

In the first decade a strong economy and strong state were built, the second decade was a time of growth and gathering energies, the third and fourth decades should be the era of a historical leap ahead. We will successfully implement the Strategy "Kazakhstan-2030", - stressed the President.

- The uppermost task to the Republic is to become an active player of postindustrial world. New industrialization is a nation-scale project of the new century. Innovative development is a giant leap into the future of Kazakhstan's Leopard.

N.Nazarbayev also focused on social security, fair system of education, healthcare, youth and housing policy that prompts the need for a clear strategy for social modernization.

- In the twenty-first century real Independence of Kazakhstan is unthinkable without active involvement in regional and global integration processes. Integration is the path to the future. Thanks to the single economic space Kazakhstan will improve its economic position, first in Central Asia to go out of its continental isolation. The Republic will have access to the Russian and Belarusian transport infrastructure on favorable terms, it will in fact move westwards - to the EU borders and eastwards - to the markets of Japan and other Asia-Pacific states.

And, certainly, an essential constituent of successful development is the national unity, centuries of unity and continuity and shared goals alone, passed from generation to generation, are able to rally the nation to meet the challenges of this century.

- Inter-ethnic and religious harmony, equality of all citizens are our eternal values. Just following these canonical truth, we can speak of the eternal nation, the eternal capital, and the eternal state. I am confident that the twenty-first century will be the best time in the history of Kazakhstan, the century, which will come down in our history as a time of peace and creation.

Then the Senate Speaker Kairat Mami read congratulations to the President and Kazakhstanis on the 20th anniversary of Independence from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese leader Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, King Juan Carlos I, the German President Christian Wulff, Saudi Arabia's King Abdallah bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, King of Jordan Abdullah II, Pope Benedict XVI, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

Congratulations also came from the leaders of the UAE, Croatia, Lebanon, Ireland, Palestine, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Poland, Georgia, Cuba, Switzerland, international organizations - the OSCE, the European Commission and others.

Mainstay of the nation

Then a 98-year-old labor veteran Bayan Zhangalov went to the stage, who first met Nursultan Nazarbayev on the train, when they were both going to Alma-Ata for a party plenum. It was a long travel from Karaganda and they whiled away the time talking. Already then B. Zhangalov saw that the young worker Nursultan has a promising future ahead. At the meeting this elder quoted Abay saying that if fate brings to the nation worthy sons, they should be protected as they will be the mainstay of the Fatherland. As fate would have it, Nursultan Nazarbayev became that very mainstay.

Indeed, 20 years of Independence are 20 years of victories and achievements, hard work of all the people. In his speech, Deputy Senate Mukhtar Altynbayev said in these 20 years we have covered the path equal to two centuries. As a former military man he knows full well how much all depends on the Supreme Commander – for his strategy is a pledge of success.

Then the younger generation, students mostly had their say, and the mayor of Astana I.Tasmagambetov tallied up the capital’s development.

* * *
The same day the Central Concert Hall "Kazakhstan" hosted a spectacular concert President Nursultan Nazarbayev was attending too.

The performers in it were both prominent artists whose names ring the bell: Alibek Dnishev, Nurjamal Usenbaeva, Jania Aubakirova, Ayman Musakhodjaeva, Rosa Rymbaeva, Yerzhan Kosbarmakov, Madina Basbaeva, Jannat Baktay, Aigul Niyazov, Talgat Musabayev, Sundet Baygozhin, Azamat Zheltyrguzov, Gulfairus Kurmangozhaeva, Zhandos Aubakirov , Gauhar Usina, Kuralay Sarkytbaeva, Nurlan Bekmukhambetov, Tolkyn Zabirova ... And that's only the soloists.

There were many recognized conductors: Aitkali Zhayymov, Nurlan Zharasov, Abzal Mukhitdinov. Then there were our young and promising gifts studying abroad: Masha Mudryak, in Italy, Kazbek Akhmedyarov (in France), Amir Bisengaliev (UK), Ordabek Duysen (USA), Sherniyazov Musahan (Switzerland), Nuria Karimbaeva (Germany), Diyar Kasenov (Russia), then our "home-grown", talented musicians.

Kazakh State Academic Folk Instruments Orchestra, and other orchestras, bands, choirs and ensembles were performing, there was ballet dancing, dance groups "Altynai", "Nazerke," "Carnival", as well as performances of ethno-cultural centers.

Groups, soloists, genres- classical, folk and pop music alternated in the festive program to suit all tastes.

The grand festive show ended with a song "Kazakhstan" by Altynbek Korazbaev Z. Moldagaliyev, sung by a trio (Bolat Esimhanov, Eugeny Chainikov, Baurzhan Anderzhanov) then joined in by all the participants of the concert, the choir standing on the balcony, and the orchestra.

Laura Tusupbekova, Yulia Mager
Vladimir Kuriatov, Bektur Kadyrov

Photo: Sergey Bondarenko, Bolatbek Otarbaev

www.kazpravda.kz