President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Nursultan Nazarbayev

WE BUILT WAY ON THE BASE OF LARGE-SCALE DONE COMMENSURABLE WITH MULTI-CENTURIES WAY

Born the 6th of July 1940 in Chemolgan village, Kaskelen district, Almaty region.

1967 - graduated from technical institution of higher education attached to Karaganda metallurgical industrial complex.

Doctor of Economic Sciences.

Academician of National science academy of Kazakhstan, of International engineer academy, Social sciences academy of Russian Federation. Honorary professor of Kazakh state university named after Al - Farabi. Honorary member of Belarusian science academy. Honorary professor of Moscow state university named after Lomonosov.

1960 - 1969 - worked at Karaganda metallurgical industrial complex.

1969 - 1973 - party, komsomol work in Temirtay, Karaganda region.

1973 - 1977 - party committee secretary of Karaganda metallurgical industrial complex.

1977 - 1979 - secretary, second secretary of Karaganda regional party committee.

1979 - 1984 - Central Committee of Communist Party of Kazakhstan secretary.

1984 - 1989 - chairman of Ministers Council of Kazakhstan.

1989 - 1991 - first secretary of Central Committee of Communist Party of Kazakhstan. At the same time from February till April 1990 - the chairman of High Council of Kazakhstan.

April 1990 - the President of Kazakhstan.

1 December 1991 first nation-wide elections of the President of the republic took place where N.A.Nazarbayev had been supported by 98.7% of voters.

The 29th of April 1995 the Presidents powers had been extended till 2000 at nation-wide referendum.

The 10th of January 1999 on the alternative basis had been elected as a President of Kazakhstan supported by 79.78% of voters.

Chairman of the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan.

Supreme Commander in Chief of Military Forces of Kazakhstan.

Chairman of World Association of Kazakhs.

The spouse of the President - Nazarbayeva Sara Alpisovna. The head of International child's charitable fund "Bobek".

The President has three daughters: Dariga - Majilis deputy of Parliament of Kazakhstan, Doctor of political sciences; Dinara - the head of Education fund named after N.A.Nazarbayev; Aliya - business woman, the head of "Elitstroi" construction company.

Mr. President, which stages of development did Kazakhstan pass for years of state's independence and what is your estimation regarding turning historical period at the end of XX - beginning of XXI?

Annually in December 16 the Republic of Kazakhstan celebrates its Independence Day. And summing up the results with the friends of our country we become sure that during the Independence we built way on the base of large-scale done commensurable with multi-centuries way gathered and developed all that our nation could dream.

As you aware, our starting terms were not profitable. It is enough to remind Zbignev Bzhezinskiy with his doctrine about "great chess table" that destined to Kazakhstan and Central Asia the destiny of "second Balkan". In real, there were appeared a lot of disagreements both in USSR and in the world by the end of 80's which accelerated inevitability USSR breaking up.

Therefore at the beginning of 90's our first matters were the following: the first - overcoming economic collapse of the soviet system and mobilizing resources wealth of the Republic for service of Kazakhstan's safety and profitability; the second - do not stop the speed of economics' reformation to build the base of state and formation of the democracy institutes; the third - the implementation the passage from plan economic to market and prepare the market's upgrading in social-economic, political, culture-humanitarian development. And all of these years we having big patient to build the way that today is being called as "Kazakhstan version" of development.

Corner stone of domestic policy became enhance of public stability, civil peace, interethnic and interconfessionals agreement. According to stated base we made great democratization and liberalization of social system. Components of stated course are fair and stately elections, strengthening of the parties' role, parliament's stately expansion, non-governmental organizations' growth and encouragement, vessels' independence and autonomy, press's freedom, changing the relations to women, family and children. The President and the Parliament are elected by common direct voting at alternative base. Party fractions are operated at the Parliament and the country pass to election of local leaders.

We abandoned with black heritage of the "cold war": In August 1991 we closed Semipalatinskiy nuclear polygon due to which the world got good example. Kazakhstan - entrust of the world public and warranty of safety.

We could pay world public's attention to Aral tragedy and firstly started the complex social-economic rehabilitation of Kazakhstan's Priaral. It is enough to say that last spring I opened on stream of Sirdarya some hydrotechnical constructions aimed to regulate drainpipe, protect the coasts, provide the cultural demands of the South Kazakhstan and fill Small Aral with water.

Since 1992 there was begun the delimitation of borders. Today, Kazakhstan does not have the territorial disputes with its neighbours. Disputable frontier puzzles from the former USSR had already been solved. And Daman and Zhalanashkol tragedies will not repeat. Since the same 1992 there were built modern and mobile Military Forces of state. At the same time we created the line of good neighbouring and cooperation around our borders - particularly with Russia and China, CIS partners and Central Asia. Today stated system is enhanced in such kind of interregional sheafs like Organization of Agreement on Collective Safety, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Organization of the Central-Asian Cooperation, Eurasian Economic Substitution, Conference on mutual relation and measures of trust in Asia, World Religions Congress.

Launched in 1993 national currency passed the trials to stability and be quoted at finance markets as one of stables. Timely was built civilized and progressive bank system due to which it became possible to make easy the strike of financial crisis end of 90s. For the sake of state's protection from macro-economy choices Kazakhstan was the first in CIS who established the National Development Fund where accumulated 5,3 bn US dollars. Gold currency reserves of the state with National Fund exceed 14 bn. USD.

30 bn USD of direct foreign investments were attracted in economy of the country and stated process from "beneath" was greeted as mass cultivating of middle and small business. Euro Union and USA acquainted Kazakhstan as a country with economic market. There is considered the matter about Kazakhstan joining in World Trade Organization that proves its confidence integration in world economy and adaptation to terms of global competition. In 2004, the volume of foreign turnover closed to 33 bn USD with positive balance more than 7 bn USD and increased more than to 3 times in comparison with 1994. In the structure of Kazakhstan's turnover first place took the nations - members of EU: Russia, Switzerland and China.

Main resource of economic growth is the exploitation of state's raw material potential. Comparatively with 1985s level we could increase the volume of hydrocarbon production by 225% wherever the production in the world pushed up less than to 1,3 times. However, we got the necessity of raw material monocultural wastes in time. So, there is a task ahead of the Parliament to conduct the policy of industry diversification with paying attention to fields enabling to production export and create an extra cost. Detail content of stated strategy - creation of competitive national economy, providing with stable economic growth and enhance of national capital influence in key branches of economy, stimulating agrarian sector, supporting low level of inflation, further development of financial system existed in Kazakhstan. New industrial policy, supposing the integration of industry development, agrarian and scientific-technological sectors is aimed to achieving of these goals.

There is observed in agriculture during last years the growth in all types of animal husbandry and farming. In 2005, there is completed the realization of trilateral agrarian industry program conducted as "Aul support years". There was formed the system of state regulation and supporting to agrarian business in the country, and just in 2005 from republican budget was provided by about 60 bn tenge for development of agricultural processing.

Citizen's profitability significantly increased: according to classification of the World Bank Kazakhstan joins into group of states with middle level of revenue. For last decade funds profit of Kazakhstan's pushed up to 5 times, average month wages increased almost to 6 times, minimal wages - to 25 times. An average month size of pension for stated period increased to 4,6 times, deposits of natural persons in banks and the volume of investments per each person pushed up to 35 and 37 times conformably.

State's expenditures to guarantee volume of free of fees medicine assistance only in 2005 increased to 2 times in comparison with 2003. If in 2005 GDP per each person made a little more than 700 USD then in 2005 it reached 3000 USD. At present speed the GDP figure per each person by 2010 will make more than 5800 USD and 9000 USD by 2015.

On reform speed Kazakhstan is the first than the other CIS nations, and presently, the reform programs at our neighbors are under the process of development (for instance in the field of pension, communal economy, court system, state service, healthcare, education, etc.) which mainly completed in our state.

In result of success transfer and further construction and development Astana capital became not only as beauty, real Eurasian capital and proud of Kazakhstan but also as locomotive of urbanization process and public civilized progress of state.

But the main - these 14 years we have lived in the terms of peace: we did not have any disputes with non-of neighbors.

Under your management Kazakhstan becomes as prosperity state. How do you see Kazakhstan's future, will Kazakhstan's development experience promise to become perfect in Eurasia?

In its Strategy of state's development "Kazakhstan-2030" proposed to nation in 1997 I have already stated my conceptual opinions about acceptable way of development and expected shape of my country in XXI century: our general purpose - building the independence, prosperity and political stability in Kazakhstan with liberal power, national unique, powerful democratic institutes, social justice and economic profitability of whole population.

Locating at the central of Eurasia Kazakhstan with its history having light and great future was aimed the role of "golden bridge" among the parties of the world, all cultures and civilizations.

Regarding Kazakhstan's role and place in regional processes then in differ from our own self-appraisal that can be subjective it is necessary to rely to opinion of the leading politicians and experts of the world who dignity estimate the results of large-scale economic and political formations in Kazakhstan for independence years and characterizes Kazakhstan as a "leader of reform and model of imitation to whole region concerning realizing deep changes in economy and public".

In spring of 2005, there was held scientific conference on Kazakhstan in Harvard University and one of the resolutions informs: "Kazakhstan's meaning lie that it is an example and demonstration project proving that democracy and market fulfilling in the Central Asia, in Asia general and in whole Moslem world".

What are Kazakhstan's main foreign political priorities, the partnership with which countries are strategic?

All meaning of our Independence consists from speaking with the other world as equal and taking into account our opportunities to defend our national interests. According to it, the conceptual base of our state's relations, effective measures of trust formation in international relations.

General directions of foreign political course are defined with knowing of our place and role in the modern world. And their are following: export specialization in international division of resources and work, formation of the world belt around the Republic of Kazakhstan, assistance in strengthening of international stability and safety, creation of the profitability external conditions for economic growth and democratization in Kazakhstan, investments attraction, constructive mutual friendly relations with the other nations, equality and mutual profitability, Kazakhstan's active integration in global and regional economic processes.

Russia, USA and China are the most important our strategy partners, and mutual relations with them are developed as dynamically. We pay big attention to cooperation with European Union. We are going to develop the successful cooperation with NATO/SEAP, OSCE and other international structures in future too. It is dictated with comprehension of the Kazakhstan's role in Central Asian region. Being as island of the world, at the same time we are gathered around by instability zones. Analyses and neutralization of threat in a shape of terrorism, organized crime, not control migration, trade with weapon, drug and people, hazard with weapon of annihilation's spread making basic content of Kazakhstan's partnership with the world community.

Kazakhstan rests as active follower of integration processes with the nearest neighbors - CIS nations. Political and trade-economic cooperation with contiguous and frontier states is developed logically. Instruments of such kind of partnership are Eurasian Economic Association (EEA), Shanghai Organization of Cooperation (SOC), Central-Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO), Unique Economic Area (UEA), Organization of Economic Cooperation (OEC). Recently it was initiated the creation of new education - Centralasian Union of States.

Does CIS justify itself today and which its main organizational problems?

As you aware, in September of last year during CIS summit in Astana I entered the pack of proposals on complete reformation of CIS structure with taking into account new realities. It informs about my relation to CIS: I am sure as previous that its potential has not been exhausted. Moreover, cooperation within its frame should be called as profitable because it contributes to relation of many ideas and joint projects. In the matter of CIS main problematic unfortunately I had to be repeated all of these years: all states-CIS members should enhance the states' care about maximal providing of rights and interests of people regarding simplifying of citizenship getting, their providing with financial and property rights, taking off any barriers that prevent in mutual trade in the terms of open borders, free movement of cargoes, working power and capitals, in closing of our financial-bank system and creation of other common markets.

The large-scale using within the frame of CIS found the program offered by me and accepted by "EEA" "Ten simple steps regarding simple people". We have all requested and the main of them - good will and wish of political management and populations of our states. Because the million of people would like to know what is CIS - this is not "paper snake", not "presidents club" and not "the form of civilized relief" but this is reliable and effective system historically built affinity.

What about present Kazakhstan's relations with the EU countries when some EU nations have already declared about their intention to join into stated structure?

We pay big attention to cooperation with EU. If in 90s EU addressed as organizer of several important and timely programs of technical assistance to our country (TASIS, TEMPUS, etc) then now it is our main economic partner and the turnover with it made 32% of common foreign trade fulfilled by Kazakhstan.

EU was the first who acquainted Kazakhstan as a country with economic market and later the same status was given to it by USA too. And it means "green light" for entering Kazakhstan's goods in world market. Presently, our metals, light industry production, black caviar and fish delicatessen began to take awarded place in the world market.

There is developed bilateral cooperation with the members of EU and my visits to the following EU countries like Germany, Spain, Austria, Sweden prove it.

So, we fulfill closing in with EU at the level of concrete and result affairs, not only on the base of hopes and intentions. Kazakhstan joins in EEA structure. According to which principle stated association was established, do there have economic motives, isn't it as a model of EU at the former of Soviet area?

Your question has an answer. But I should correct you because Kazakhstan not only joins in EEA but initiator and the "motherland" of stated association.

This spring EEA will be 5 years anniversary. Let's remind: In October 10, 2000 the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia, Belorussia, Kyrgyzstan, Tadjikistan signed an Agreement about establishing of the Eurasian Economic Association that was founded with the aim of effective improvement the upgrading CIS and Custom Union's ideology, creation common energy, communication, agricultural, work markets, fulfillment joint researches and elaboration on priority directions of science and technology, stimulating investment activity, making unified system of law regulation of the formation and profile of finance-industry groups on multi-parties and bilateral bases.

In dynamic of cooperation, strategy directions of dialogue motives development EEA structure looks like EU model. But historic, cultural, mentality community of EEA states-members make their relations more closely and complimentary.

About present problematic inside of EEA we can say that its members are getting ready to joining in World Trade Organization and took for the base the terms of the Russian entering to stated organization. They also create on initiative of Kazakhstan and Russia Interstate Investment Bank, make more simple the visa procedure in the borders. Agenda in the nearest year - the completion of unification and harmonization of tariff policy in the countries-participants.

After USSR breaking up Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan began actively attraction of the western investments in oil and gas sector that make their economy to stage of intensive growth. Recently "Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan named after Heydar Aliyev" project started. How do you estimate the role of stated transport corridor in the economy of Kazakhstan?

In energy strategy of Kazakhstan supposing the principle of optimal multi-vector routes of hydrocarbon transportation the given project has always been considered as one of major perspectives and realistic. Regarding Kazakhstan's share participation I can remind that in the mid. of 90's when "Baku-Ceyhan" existed only in the stage of initiating and arrangements different experts' opinion were the same that pipeline would need Kazakh oil.

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are the largest oil producers and with the help of mutual efforts they could be become more influential players in the world arena. It regards not only economy aspects but also the decisions of majority actual problems of regional and international character. But economy factor is the key link of bilateral relations.

Solemnly opened "Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan" oil pipeline in May not for nothing was named as "project of the century" because it is the most extension oil pipeline in the world aimed for supplying Caspian oil to Mediterranean Sea and then will be transported to western markets by tankers.

Like "CPC" "Aktau-Ceyhan" route will be resulted in Kazakhstan with the speed development of perspective routes to Western China, Persian Gulf and Baltic. According to forecasts the oil production in Kazakhstan will reach 60 mln. tons in 2005, and export will make almost 50 mln. tons. In 2010 the volume of oil production is expected at the level of 88,7 mln. tons including the export that planned at 70 mln. tons without the volumes of production in the Caspian shelf.

How do you estimate the condition and perspectives of business relations between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan in other sectors of economy beyond the bounds of oil?

According to results of recent negotiations in Baku with my colleague Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev, there was signed fundamental and unexampled in the history paper - Agreement on strategy partnership and allied relations that clearly meaning the long-term priority between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan cooperation. It demonstrates the development of brother relations between our states based on deep roots of historical relationship, common destiny and aspirations.

The turnover between our nations during 2004 reached 303,2 mln. USD that twicely exceeded 2003's figure. There are supplied from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan petroleum products, polymer ethylene, accessories for machines and mechanisms, pumps and elevator fluids. Kazakhstan exports to Azerbaijan natural gas, tobacco production, electric equipment, metals. There are operated in Kazakhstan 36 plants with participation of Azerbaijan capital. Significant potential for enhance of cooperation fixed in the sphere of agriculture: for example, Azerbaijan purchased in Kazakhstan more than 400.000 tons of grain in 2004. "Altinsarin-Khromtau" railway's opening made short the distance by 2000 km. from grain areas to Aktau port.

New signed protocols, correcting bilateral agreements about free trade and main principle of cooperation in the region of oil machine-building will also contribute to strengthening of cooperation. So, above-mentioned presence will be resulted with good perspectives for relations expansion.

Does Caspian status problem affect Kazakhstan interests, and how do you see the solving of prolonged problem?

Our common task in the Caspian - to build large-scale mutual advantageous fellowship, to find the answers together and enhance the stability in the Caspian region. Center Eurasia should not become the arena of interests collapse and the Caspian nations as a hostage of geopolitical plays. On the contrary, Caspian should become the region of effective integration and economy cooperation in the interests of whole world.

Littoral states have to harmonize the rights of each on the base of principle of national interests, justice an mutual acceptable decisions. In this connection Kazakhstan offered to set coastal and fish zones: the deep and bowels to divide to national sectors and the other part of the sea rest as common.

First of all, it will allow to clear distinguishing the rights to mineral resources that profitably will be reflected in investment climate of whole region. Second, due to created regime of consortium there will be saved in major part of water basin bioresources, also will be provided ecology balance, free trade shipping and air communication.

We can say that the parties of the process agreed with the principle of division in the Caspian. Today, there exists three main method of stated division: 1) middle line (or modified middle line), 2) Latitudinal line under delimitation of the deep of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, 3) 20% method. The second, i.e. latitudinal method at present is more acceptable for the parties. We hope that all states will get constructive position, be on the way of sensible compromise and in result geopolitical and geoeconomy sharpness of the Caspian problem will be solved.

Kazakhstan actively develops its national sector in the Caspian. How does state provide and safe its interests in the given sphere?

Revenue part of state's budget mainly is realized by oil production field. Therefore oilmen plans are proportional to plans of state. At the same time, we should take into account the interests of neighbours and good example is the mutual respective Kazakhstan and Russian tandem at "Kurmangazi" and "Khvalinskoye" fields.

"Black gold" production and export is planned to conduct mainly via CPC pipeline. And in this connection additional expansion of oil pipeline's capacity: by 2005 up to 38 mln. tons a year (Kazakhstan's share - 28 mln. tons), by 2011 up to 67 mln. tons (Kazakhstan's share - 50,7 mln. tons).

As I have already stated Kazakh oil will be exported via "Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan" oil pipeline too. In the nearest perspective we will meet with the completion of construction and "Western Kazakhstan - China" and "Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan - Iran" oil pipelines' commissioning.

In the nearest future Caspian shelf should become as polygon for introduction of innovations in science and technique. There is planned the using of new special platforms aimed for safety drilling in the sea. High technologies will be used during processing of natural gas and sulfur's utilization.

There is elaborated modern system of ecology requirements regarding plants implementing the activity in reserve zone of the Caspian. We achieve the increasing of level of waste's using through supporting of wasteless technologies. Previous approaches regarding concluding the contracts for bowels' development and developing new processing powers on raw material manufacturing are changed. If earlier, there had been created for investors profitable and exclusive conditions, now natural safety legislation concern everybody.

Thanks for your interview.