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Kazakhstan is moving towards a more open democratic system and improving the socio-economic fabric of the country, writes Colin Stevens.
With the nation this month celebrating the anniversary of its independence, that is one of the encouraging messages from a leading think tank.
The European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) delivered the upbeat verdict on Kazakhstan under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, its relatively new leader.
But the highly respected Brussels-based Institute cautions that more time is needed for the many reforms currently taking place to fully feed through into concrete results.
The anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence is held every year on 16 December.
The day is a national holiday of Kazakhstan, a two-day celebration with December 17 also a holiday.
The holiday marks the independence of Kazakhstan on December 16 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence, four days after Russia.
Kazakhstan Independence Day is marked by festivities in the presidential palace and many Kazakhs, as in the past, this year dressed up in traditional clothes.
This year, President Tokayev used the annual celebration to announce that Kazakhstan will reach carbon neutrality by 2060 as part of the nation’s strengthened national climate plan.
Addressing the Climate Ambitions Summit held four days before Independence Day online December12, he reaffirmed his “strong commitment to fighting climate change and our intent as a nation and government to take increasingly bold targeted action under the Paris agreement”.
Tokayev joined nearly 70 leaders, and heads of businesses delivering their remarks at the summit which is considered an important step ahead of the delayed UN Climate Conference (COP26) scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November 2021.
The anniversary is also a chance for a “stock take” on the current situation in the country and possible challenges ahead.
In an interview with this website, two officials spoke highly of efforts by the president, and his predecessor, to reform the country.
Axel Goethals, CEO of the European Institute for Asian Studies and Simon Hewitt, a researcher at the EIAS, told EUReporter this is a process “which cannot happen overnight and requires a more gradual approach to avoid abrupt or forced changes which could result in instability.”
They said it is also part of a “learning curve of democratisation” for the public and all institutions in Kazakhstan.
They said, “President Tokayev has shown real commitment and determination in order to improve the socio-economic fabric of Kazakhstan through political modernisation.”
This, they say, has been built upon by the legacy and reforms initiated by his predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
As an example, they cite the new law on peaceful assemblies as one big improvement, saying this has introduced a mechanism whereby notification and requests can be submitted for demonstrations.
This has enabled “a new culture of peaceful manifestations and proof of the gradual liberalisation of the freedom of assembly in Kazakhstan”.
Another good sign, they said, are the upcoming elections to the lower chamber of parliament (Majilis) planned, for 10 January 2021, “a move that will continue the steady progress towards a more coherent democratic structure in the nation”.
More than 11 million people are expected to vote out of a population estimated to be around 18.5 million.
Kazakhstan, they told this site, has also made “very positive inroads” into increasing general representation and civil society participation in its democratic process. The introduction of a mandatory quota of 30% representation for women and youth under 29 in the party candidate lists “demonstrate this well”.
Goethals and Hewitt added: “Amendments made this year emphasize the will in government for increased pluralism, such as the lowering of signatures from 40,000 to 20,000 that are required to form a new political party.”
On the climate front, the country has already launched a national emission trading scheme and hopes that an agreement can be reached at COP 26 next year on issues regarding the Paris climate package.
This, says the president: “Will help fully unlock the potential for joint action and increased cross-national co-operation, greenhouse gas mitigation.”
A Kazakh government source said the Independence Day is “epoch-making” and the most important holiday for all Kazakhstanis.
“We have embarked on the way of sovereign development and building the independent country. We have earned respect and confidence of the entire international community thanks to our shrewd and open policy.”
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