During his political career, the 5 time President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev has become an author of 3 books. On March 19th, he resigned from his post after three decades in power, but he will continue to actively participate in his country’s life (and country’s capital city is already renamed as Nursultan).
The recollection of his best sayings shows his views on world, politics and people.
Text: Viktorya Muradyan
Photo caption: Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev dances with the participants of performance during celebrations on People's Unity Day in Almaty, from China Daily
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“Some people approached me saying they would like to raise a monument to me like they do in Turkmenistan for Turkmenbashy, I asked, what for? Astana is my memorial.”
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“There was no such thing as Kazakhstan. It was just a chunk of the Soviet Union.
I had to build a country, to establish an army, our own police, our internal life, everything from roads to the constitution. I had to change the minds of the people 180 degrees, from a totalitarian regime to freedom, from state property to private property.
Nobody wanted to understand that. My comrades from the communist party were against me. I had to train myself too...
I wasn't raised with democracy and freedom of speech.”
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“Kazakhstan, like Armenia, is interested in strengthening our cooperation and developing mutually beneficial trade. The views of Kazakhstan and Armenia on the situation in the region, in the CIS as a whole, coincide, and we can say that we have no problems that could prevent the expansion of our interaction.”
The PM of RA Nikol Pashinyan with Nursultan Nazarbayev (photo: Press office of the Government of Armenia)
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“Kazakhstan and Armenia have always had good relations. The trade turnover between our countries last year increased by almost 60%. This trend continues even now. I want to note that we should not stop there. Governments need to continue their efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. Our companies have the opportunity to invest in the economy of both states.”
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“In order not to provoke the comrade in Azerbaijan [President Ilham Aliyev], you need to join the Eurasian Union within the borders recognized by the UN, with a reservation [without Nagorno-Karabakh], as you did joining the WTO. So, there is a precedent.“
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“It is extremely important that mass media, having freed from the relics of the Cold War, served for peace and dialogue between nations and religions, the rich and the poor, countries and continents. ”
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“We must strive to encourage East and West not only to move towards each other but also to encourage them to find a new philosophy, a philosophy which will serve as a tool determining the future of Planet Earth - our common and only shelter.”
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“We should never forget the truth that the Creator is one, that there is enough place under the sky for all. Therefore as the descendants of one father and one mother we should live in the harmony with each other.”
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“It requires a lot of strength, valour and determination to rise up the Flag of Independence. The same valour, strength and determination are needed to keep it raised.”
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“We are a nation that has put sails to its ship, eager to make a distant journey. We are driven not by a thirst of adventures and illusive hopes. We are the nation acting under the flag of freedom and justice, honour and humanism, independence and patriotism.”
