President's Address Is an Appeal to Every Citizen – Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

The Address contains the national objective to build a successful state and to become one of the thirty most developed countries in the modern world, the press service of the Senate reports. This is a historic mission, one that our people, under the leadership of President Nazarbayev, can definitely achieve.

Mangilik El is based not only on the centuries' old dream of our forefathers, but on the concrete results of country's recent development. Kazakhstan has arranged its state borders, managed to pursue a path toward sustainable socio-economic development, and taken strong positions in the international arena. As the President stated, the implementation of this historic mission will be carried out according to Strategy Kazakhstan-2050. This means that the people of Kazakhstan will not have to wait long to see changes, but will experience concrete results in the near future, as fruits of their unrelenting dedication in all spheres of the economy and public life.

In my view, the President's mission to create a science-driven economy is of great significance. This implies increased attention to the development of science and innovative technologies.

The President has addressed not only the legislative and executive bodies, but the nation as a whole. Mr.Nazarbayev said that the country's future lies in the hands of those who are determined to transform the nation into one of the most successful states in the world and here President puts special emphasis on the youth. For several years, despite a series of crises, the President has been preparing the country for a qualitative break-through. This Address evidences that Kazakhstan has entered a new stage in its transition, as Lee Kuan Yew has stated, from the third world to the first.

The development agenda has many issues, such as the necessity to increase labor productivity and energy efficiency, to modernize the agro-industrial complex, transport and logistics, to develop small and medium-sized enterprises, to solve pressing social problems, including care for the disabled, to protect the environment, and to introduce innovations. All these require personal and active participation on the part of every citizen wishing to live in a developed democratic society with rule o f law, equality, and justice.

Kazakhstan has a great advantage due to its strong leadership. With the departure of Den Xiaoping, Francois Mitterrand, Margaret Thatcher, and Helmut Kohl from the political arena, the modern world is suffering from a deficit of truly influential leaders with a strategic vision and perspective. Long before the implementation of political technologies, Nursultan Nazarbayev entered politics and was accepted inside the country and abroad as a true leader. He took the lead in the antinuclear movement, but most importantly, the President has already made history as a great reformer, strategist, and creator. He has put the country on a track toward sustainable development and he has led the way toward genuine prosperity. It is for these reasons that we are discussing the unique nature of the President's Address.