Nursultan Nazarbayev holds meeting with international observers

The President expressed his gratitude to the international observers for their interest in the early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He noted the growing political activity of the voters and their confidence in the government. "As you know, voter turnout was very high. According to the figures voiced today by the Central Election Commission, 95.2% of the population voted at the elections. Over the past five years the number of voters in the country has increased by more than half a million. Representatives of international organizations and foreign journalists have monitored and covered the electoral process," said Nursultan Nazarbayev. President of Kazakhstan drew attention to the challenges facing the state. "First and foremost, we will continue implementing the ongoing course which was supported by the people. We intend to build an economy that does not depend on natural resources. We have completed the first five-year plan of industrialization during which about 800 new businesses were developed. We will proceed to the second five-year plan," he said. Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that another priority is to implement the state program "Nurly Zhol" providing for the development of transport infrastructure in the country and the role of Kazakhstan as a transit bridge between Europe and Asia. Kazakhstan's President also reminded of the importance of the five institutional reforms announced at the XVI Congress of Nur Otan Party. Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan's foreign policy is based on the principles of multi-vector nature and balance. In turn, international observers positively assessed the electoral process stressing that the election results showed not only the victory of democracy in Kazakhstan, which is a natural bridge between the two continents, but the future of democratic societies of Asia and Europe. Member of the German Bundestag Karin Strenz noted high electoral activity of Kazakhstanis. She congratulated the Head of State on his victory and conveyed him warm greetings from the Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. Former chairman of the OSCE PA, president on inter-parliamentary cooperation of the Institute of Asian and Mediterranean countries "Izamed" Mr. Riccardo Migliori stressed that the early presidential elections in Kazakhstan were an example for other democratic countries. Member of the European Parliament from Latvia, head of the European Parliament delegation on cooperation with Central Asian Iveta Grigule noted the high level of voting procedures. "Yesterday we visited several voting stations and I can say that the elections were held at a very high level, in a very positive atmosphere. Kazakh citizens have voted not only for their President but for the future of their country, prosperity, economic development and stability," she said. Deputy of the German Bundestag, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the CDU / CSU G.Sertich drew attention to the activity of the population and the transparency of the elections. President of the International Centre for Tax and Investment Daniel Witt noted that the elections were another step toward building democratic institutions in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the benefit of future generations.