Azamat Berdibay
By Azamat Berdibay
Today, Kazakhstan celebrates Constitution Day. This year marks the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the constitution. It guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms and is the basis for economic, political, cultural and social development.
It incorporates the best international experience of constitutional development of states. Its adoption was a turning point in Kazakhstan’s history as it laid the foundation for development and strengthening government institutions and society. It also set a high standard for democratic reforms and has opened up new possibilities for individual growth and establishment of a civilised market.
The constitution is not out of step with social development, and has been periodically updated. In 1998, several articles were amended. A provision for elections under party lists was introduced, the process of shifting the centre of gravity from the president to parliament has been started and the basis for consideration of criminal cases by juries laid. In accordance with amendments in 2007, Kazakhstan has become a unitary state with a presidential-parliamentary form of government.
As noted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev: “The constitution approved the solidarity of the people, united on the Kazakh land citizens of all ethnic groups linked by their common historical destiny. Born of one national will, it became a creative basis for the development of the country.”
The 1995 constitution has played a crucial role in the country’s history: It defined its destiny and every aspect of development. The first article states that Kazakhstan is a democratic, secular, legal and social state that accords the highest value to the individual, his life, rights and freedoms.
The constitution encourages the development of democratic institutions. Changes introduced in 1988 and 2007 increased its capacity. The constitution introduced new institutions and norms such as a bicameral parliament of the Senate and Majilis, a constitutional council, a hierarchy of sources of existing law, a unified court system and a new procedure for establishment of courts, ensuring an independent judiciary. Widely recognised, politically stable and institutionally strong Kazakhstan is the direct result of this constitution.
Kazakhstan is rather young. On December 16, 1991, it declared independence by adopting a law on state sovereignty. After two decades, we can confidently say that Kazakhstan has become a successful sovereign state and an equal partner in the global community. After independence, Kazakhstan faced complex problems that required immediate solutions. All have been solved. In a short period, Kazakhstan delimited its borders with neighbouring countries.
Its economy is developing at an accelerated pace and citizens’ well-being is growing. New industrial facilities are being built and jobs created. Since independence, Kazakhstan’s GDP has increased 17 times and is over $12,000 per capita.
Kazakhstan has attracted more than $180bn of foreign investment — about 80 percent raised by all Central Asian states. The country successfully coped with the global financial crisis. Spending on education and health has been increasing steadily — more than eight-fold over the past 10 years. A unified network of schools has been created; a new Nazarbayev university has opened in Astana.
Kazakhstan has not only proven itself a successful state but has also become an influential regional power, contributing to global security and cooperation. All this is the result of the extraordinary activities of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the architect and builder of the new Kazakhstan, and his standing as a global leader who provides the right path of development. As a responsible partner in global policies, Kazakhstan is making efforts to counter new challenges and threats while offering its vision for resolving urgent regional issues.
In 1992, President Nazarbayev put forward the idea of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, which brings together 22 states that account for 90 percent of the Asian landmass and half the population of the planet.
Convincing evidence of the increasing authority of Kazakhstan in the international arena is its effective chairmanship of OSCE in 2010, chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2011, and chairmanship of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 2011-12. These are also recognition of the successful socio-economic and political development of Kazakhstan since independence.
August 29 was declared by the UN as the International Day of Actions Against Nuclear Testing. On this day in 1991, the president closed the nuclear testing ground in Semipalatinsk. Over 40 years, 450 tests that affected half a million people were carried out at the site. Kazakhstan has also given up the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world. During his visit to Kazakhstan and the Semipalatinsk site in April 2010, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged leaders of all countries, especially the nuclear powers, to follow the example of Kazakhstan in disarmament and non-proliferation.
I would like to stress that Kazakhstan and Qatar have long-standing relations of peace and friendship. Qatar is an important regional partner of Kazakhstan. A high level of interaction in all spheres of cooperation has been reached under the guidance of both leaders.
I congratulate my countrymen in Qatar on our national holiday and wish our young and beautiful state all success and new achievements.
(The writer is Kazakhstan’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Qatar)
The Peninsula
By Azamat Berdibay
Today, Kazakhstan celebrates Constitution Day. This year marks the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the constitution. It guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms and is the basis for economic, political, cultural and social development.
It incorporates the best international experience of constitutional development of states. Its adoption was a turning point in Kazakhstan’s history as it laid the foundation for development and strengthening government institutions and society. It also set a high standard for democratic reforms and has opened up new possibilities for individual growth and establishment of a civilised market.
The constitution is not out of step with social development, and has been periodically updated. In 1998, several articles were amended. A provision for elections under party lists was introduced, the process of shifting the centre of gravity from the president to parliament has been started and the basis for consideration of criminal cases by juries laid. In accordance with amendments in 2007, Kazakhstan has become a unitary state with a presidential-parliamentary form of government.
As noted by President Nursultan Nazarbayev: “The constitution approved the solidarity of the people, united on the Kazakh land citizens of all ethnic groups linked by their common historical destiny. Born of one national will, it became a creative basis for the development of the country.”
The 1995 constitution has played a crucial role in the country’s history: It defined its destiny and every aspect of development. The first article states that Kazakhstan is a democratic, secular, legal and social state that accords the highest value to the individual, his life, rights and freedoms.
The constitution encourages the development of democratic institutions. Changes introduced in 1988 and 2007 increased its capacity. The constitution introduced new institutions and norms such as a bicameral parliament of the Senate and Majilis, a constitutional council, a hierarchy of sources of existing law, a unified court system and a new procedure for establishment of courts, ensuring an independent judiciary. Widely recognised, politically stable and institutionally strong Kazakhstan is the direct result of this constitution.
Kazakhstan is rather young. On December 16, 1991, it declared independence by adopting a law on state sovereignty. After two decades, we can confidently say that Kazakhstan has become a successful sovereign state and an equal partner in the global community. After independence, Kazakhstan faced complex problems that required immediate solutions. All have been solved. In a short period, Kazakhstan delimited its borders with neighbouring countries.
Its economy is developing at an accelerated pace and citizens’ well-being is growing. New industrial facilities are being built and jobs created. Since independence, Kazakhstan’s GDP has increased 17 times and is over $12,000 per capita.
Kazakhstan has attracted more than $180bn of foreign investment — about 80 percent raised by all Central Asian states. The country successfully coped with the global financial crisis. Spending on education and health has been increasing steadily — more than eight-fold over the past 10 years. A unified network of schools has been created; a new Nazarbayev university has opened in Astana.
Kazakhstan has not only proven itself a successful state but has also become an influential regional power, contributing to global security and cooperation. All this is the result of the extraordinary activities of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the architect and builder of the new Kazakhstan, and his standing as a global leader who provides the right path of development. As a responsible partner in global policies, Kazakhstan is making efforts to counter new challenges and threats while offering its vision for resolving urgent regional issues.
In 1992, President Nazarbayev put forward the idea of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, which brings together 22 states that account for 90 percent of the Asian landmass and half the population of the planet.
Convincing evidence of the increasing authority of Kazakhstan in the international arena is its effective chairmanship of OSCE in 2010, chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2011, and chairmanship of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 2011-12. These are also recognition of the successful socio-economic and political development of Kazakhstan since independence.
August 29 was declared by the UN as the International Day of Actions Against Nuclear Testing. On this day in 1991, the president closed the nuclear testing ground in Semipalatinsk. Over 40 years, 450 tests that affected half a million people were carried out at the site. Kazakhstan has also given up the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world. During his visit to Kazakhstan and the Semipalatinsk site in April 2010, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged leaders of all countries, especially the nuclear powers, to follow the example of Kazakhstan in disarmament and non-proliferation.
I would like to stress that Kazakhstan and Qatar have long-standing relations of peace and friendship. Qatar is an important regional partner of Kazakhstan. A high level of interaction in all spheres of cooperation has been reached under the guidance of both leaders.
I congratulate my countrymen in Qatar on our national holiday and wish our young and beautiful state all success and new achievements.
(The writer is Kazakhstan’s Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Qatar)
The Peninsula
