Only strong, united nations and countries will be able to adequately pass the difficult phase – N. Nazarbayev

According to forecasts of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the world expects a period of global challenges in the coming years. Kazakh leader said that the sanctions policy of major powers create additional obstacles to the development of the world economy. "I, on the basis of my experience, feel that the next few years will be a time of global challenges. Kazakhstan as a part of the global economy and a country situated close to the epicentre of geopolitical tensions is affected by these changes in the world economy. We see decreases in prices on international markets and a general slow-down of the economy. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund had re-evaluated their global growth forecast for 2014. That is why we need to quickly examine our positions and adjust plans for the coming years," the President said in his address. Yet, reflecting the urgency of preventive measures needed to help steer the economy towards sustainable growth, N. Nazarbayev decided to move forward the date of his address so that the government would have time to introduce proposed anti-crisis steps into the budget plans for the upcoming year and proceed to work promptly.