2010 Results: Kazakhstan successfully passed through critical period of 21st century

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ANA. December 31. KAZINFORM /Muratbek Makulbekov/ The outgoing year was, without exaggeration, a year of great accomplishments for Kazakhstan. At the beginning of the year the Government summarized the results of 2009 and announced that the country's economy successfully overcame the global financial and economic crisis.

This was possible thanks to timely and decisive measures to support the major economic sectors and ensure employment of the population made by the Government under the Presidential instruction.

As President Nursultan Nazarbayev said in his 2010 Address "New Decade - New Economic Growth - New Opportunities for Kazakhstan", the world financial and economic crisis affected the economic growth, but did not stop the development of Kazakhstan.

"The accumulated economic potential gave us stability in difficult crisis situations of the last three years. We protected the country's financial system, saved main banks. We also rendered support to small and medium businesses. We achieved an unprecedented growth of 'Kazakh content' in public procurements of the national companies. Special attention was paid to the agro-industrial complex. The state assumed all costs related to home construction", the President's Address reads.

Due to the successful implementation of Road Map-2009 Program at the beginning of 2010 Kazakhstan was ready to start post-crisis development. Development Strategy till 2020 outlined by the Head of the State is aimed at economy diversification. The State Program of Accelerated Industrial Innovative Development for 2010-2014 as well as the Industrialization Map of Kazakhstan represent an unprecedented step that will allow to create more than 200 thousand new jobs at industrial enterprises in the coming three years. This year the country completed 152 industrial projects ranging from oil refining to pharmaceutical industry. These projects give a powerful impetus to the development of small and medium businesses.

Stability of the Kazakh economy, ensured by the balanced state policy of taxation of backbone industries and enterprises together with state support of key sectors of the economy raises confidence in our country among international financial institutes. For instance, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development granted USD 2 billion loan for the construction of 'Western Europe - Western China' international transport corridor. The total cost of the project is USD 5.32 billion.

The success of Kazakhstan's economic growth could be seen during the live teleconference when President Nazarbayev launched 80 projects of the Industrialization Map on December 21, 2010.

Kazakhstan's achievements in foreign policy were no less important this year. During its chairmanship in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe our country completely fulfilled its action plan, which was outlined by N. Nazarbayev in his video-taped address to the OSCE Permanent Council on January 14.

He noted that the increase of the effectiveness of international organizations to face new global challenges was the priority. Thus, the OSCE future depends on its ability to become a structure recognizing the diversity of the world of the 21st century and turn into united comprehensive Organization from a divided into blocks one. The motto of Kazakhstan's presidency was four 'T' - trust, traditions, transparency and tolerance. He noted that an 11-year break since the last OSCE summit is an illustration of the fact that the consensus basis of the Organization is in stagnation, if not in crisis. In this regard President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev called on OSCE member states for supporting the initiative of Kazakhstan on holding the OSCE high-level meeting in 2010. Thanks to the authority of Kazakhstan and its President in the world arena this initiative was supported and approved. The OSCE Summit was held on December 1-2 in Astana. As was proposed by Nursultan Nazarbayev the main topic of the Summit was the issue of security within the OSCE responsibility area including the situation in Afghanistan and tolerance.

Taking the floor at the Summit the leader of Kazakhstan emphasized that the heads of state gathered in the capital of Kazakhstan to continue moving to common goal - secure future. 'We approach a new level of security and cooperation - 'From Ocean to Ocean', the Head of State said.

Talking about 19 years of independence the President emphasized that stability in Kazakhstan was based on sustainable economic growth. The firm foundation of Kazakhstan's society has always been tolerance, peace and harmony among all 140 ethnic groups and 46 confessions living in Kazakhstan. Our country also managed to carry out synthesis of western values and eastern traditions.

'At the beginning of the 21st century the sources of most dangerous threats and challenges to stability at the European continent went beyond its borders', these words of Nursultan Nazarbayev were written in the Declaration of the Astana Summit.

The heads of state and international organizations highly appraised the work of Kazakh diplomats during the period of Kazakhstan's presidency in the Organization. In particular, many of them positively mentioned effective work of Kazakhstan, as OSCE Chair, during the tough period in Kyrgyzstan which could turn into protracted conflict. Together with the Presidents of the USA and Russia Nursultan Nazarbayev exerted every effort to prevent the escalation of the conflict.

In whole, the Astana Summit became a common success for all OSCE member states. The Organization was given a new impetus and new direction in its work - Eurasian direction which is called on to make security of the whole Eurasia stronger. Before the term 'Helsinki spirit' was applied to the OSCE. Now the term 'Astana spirit' is mentioned in regard of the OSCE. Politicians of Azerbaijan and Armenia noted that the Summit in Astana gave an impetus for more constructive dialogue - these countries are involved in one of the most difficult conflict in the OSCE area.

Thus, the OSCE Summit in Astana was a success first of all for Kazakhstan. The image of Kazakhstan has significantly improved in the world arena. Besides, the Summit in the capital of Kazakhstan was an opportunity for the Organization itself to reconfirm principles of its work and fill them in with new content.

The year of 2010 was also a year of intensified economic integration within the Customs Union. Due to elimination of customs barriers the trade turnover between the Customs Union member states has increased. The Customs Union has already brought benefit to Kazakhstan in the increase of export to Russia and Belarus.

The Doctrine of National Unity was adopted in 2010 which had been developed on the initiative the President of Kazakhstan - the document that includes all principles of further development of Kazakhstan's society.

Besides, 2010 was the year when salaries, pensions and benefit payments were raised.

At the end of 2010 the initiative on holding of republican referendum on extension of First Kazakh President's powers till 2020 was proposed. The initiative was fully supported by the people of Kazakhstan. It is now obvious that Nursultan Nazarbayev is the only person whom all Kazakhstanis trust the most. Kazakhstan has now reliable guarantees for successful implementation of its democratic reforms and plans on the country's industrialization.

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