September 2, 2019
The message of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the people of Kazakhstan CONSTRUCTIVE PUBLIC DIALOGUE IS THE BASIS OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF KAZAKHSTAN



Dear compatriots!

Dear deputies, members of the Government!



Congratulations to everyone on the start of the new parliamentary season!

We are approaching an important stage in the modern history of our country.

Almost 30 years ago, we declared our Independence, thus fulfilling the centuries-old dream of our ancestors.

Over the years, under the leadership of the First President of Kazakhstan, Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, our country has become a stable and authoritative state in the world.

Thanks to strong unity, we have strengthened our Independence and created conditions for improving the welfare of the people.

This time has become a period of creation and progress, peace and harmony.

Our development path has been recognized worldwide as the Kazakh model, or Nazarbayev's model.

Now we have the opportunity to multiply the achievements of Independence and bring the country to a qualitatively new level of development.

We will be able to achieve these goals by ensuring the continuity of the policy of Elbasy and carrying out systemic reforms.

You know that this formed the basis of my election program.

Today, government agencies are carrying out appropriate work to implement it.

I will certainly fulfill the promises made to the people.

In our work, we should proceed from the need for the full implementation of the Five Institutional Reforms and the National Plan developed by Elbasy. The work of the National Modernization Commission he created should be resumed.

Next, I would like to express my thoughts on the implementation of our common tasks, in particular, my election platform.



I. THE MODERN EFFICIENT STATE.

The political transformation I promised will be carried out gradually and steadily, taking into account the interests of our state and people.

World experience shows that explosive, haphazard political liberalization leads to the destabilization of the domestic political situation and even to the loss of statehood.

Therefore, we will implement political reforms without "getting ahead of ourselves", but consistently, persistently and thoughtfully. Our fundamental principle is that successful economic reforms are no longer possible without modernizing the country's socio-political life.

"A strong President – an influential Parliament – an accountable Government." This is not yet a fait accompli, but a goal towards which we must move at an accelerated pace.

This formula of the political system is the basis for the stability of the state.

Our common task is to bring to life the concept of a "Hearing State" that responds promptly and effectively to all constructive requests from citizens. Only through a constant dialogue between the government and society can a harmonious state be built, embedded in the context of modern geopolitics.

Therefore, it is necessary to support and strengthen civil society, to involve it in the discussion of the most urgent national tasks in order to solve them.

It is for this purpose that the National Council of Public Trust, representative in its composition, has been created, which will work on a rotational basis.

In the near future, we will all have to implement the following measures.

First. To continue the process of party building.

The Nur Otan Party, thanks to our Leader and its Chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev, consistently fulfills the difficult and responsible mission of the country's leading political force.

We must also cooperate with other political parties and movements pursuing constructive policies for the benefit of society.

The main problems of concern to our society should be discussed and resolved in Parliament and in the framework of civil dialogue, but not on the streets.

Deputies can and should exercise their legal rights, including by sending requests to the Government on topical issues and demanding that it take concrete measures.

At the same time, relations between the legislative and executive authorities should be mutually respectful, businesslike, without artificial confrontation.

As the Head of State, I see my task as promoting the development of multiparty system, political competition and pluralism of opinions in the country.

This is important for the stability of the political system in the long term.

The upcoming elections to the Mazhilis of Parliament and Maslikhats should contribute to the further development of the multiparty system in the country.

Second. Effective feedback from the public.

Public dialogue, openness, and prompt response to people's needs are the main priorities in the activities of government agencies.

A department has been created in the Presidential Administration that will monitor the quality of consideration by government agencies of citizens' appeals and take prompt measures on them.

People are often forced to turn to the President due to the "deafness" and closeness of officials in the center and in the field.

Repeated complaints about the unfairness of decisions in some area mean systemic problems in a particular government agency or region. Now it should be treated that way, and appropriate decisions should be made.

In order to improve the efficiency of civil servants, it is necessary to attract trained young personnel to their ranks.

At the same time, starting in 2020, we will begin to gradually reduce the number of civil servants, and we will use the released funds to financially stimulate the most useful workers.

By 2024, the number of civil servants and employees of national companies should be reduced by 25 percent.

The third. Improving the legislation on rallies.

According to the Constitution, our citizens have the right to express their free will.

If peaceful actions do not pursue the goal of violating the law and the peace of citizens, then it is necessary to meet halfway and, in accordance with the procedure established by law, give permission for their conduct, allocate special places for this. Moreover, not on the outskirts of cities.

But any calls for unconstitutional actions, hooligan actions will be suppressed within the framework of the law.

Fourth. Strengthening social harmony.

Harmony between different social and ethnic groups is the result of the efforts of the whole society.

In this regard, it is necessary to analyze the political processes and take concrete measures to strengthen our unity.

Given the role of the Kazakh people as a state-forming nation, we need to continue to strengthen interethnic harmony and interreligious understanding.

Our position is: "The unity of the nation is in its diversity"!

We will continue to create conditions for the development of languages and culture of all ethnic groups in our country.

I believe that the role of the Kazakh language as the state language will be strengthened and the time will come when it will become the language of interethnic communication.

However, to reach this level, we need not loud statements, but our common work.

In addition, it must be remembered that language is a tool of big politics.

I believe that in order to form an active civil society, it is necessary to increase the authority of non-governmental organizations.

Therefore, in the near future we should develop and adopt a Concept for the development of civil society until 2025.

Preparatory work has already begun for the celebration of significant anniversaries and major events next year.

In the coming year, we will celebrate the 1150th anniversary of al-Farabi and the 175th anniversary of Abai Kunanbayuly.

As part of the anniversary events, it is necessary, without allowing waste, to popularize the works of these brilliant personalities among the people.

In addition, necessary measures should be taken to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Independence.

I am convinced that such significant events will contribute to the education of the younger generation in the spirit of genuine patriotism.



II. ENSURING THE RIGHTS AND SECURITY OF CITIZENS.

Deep reforms of the judicial and law enforcement systems are a key factor in strengthening the protection of citizens' rights and their security.

It is necessary to implement a number of serious measures to improve the quality of judicial decisions.

The judge's right to make a decision based on the law and internal beliefs remains inviolable. However, a thorough analysis of court decisions should be carried out and uniformity of judicial practice should be ensured.

In public law disputes, when appealing decisions and actions of authorities, citizens often find themselves in unequal conditions. Their capabilities are incommensurable with the resources of the state apparatus.

Therefore, it is necessary to introduce administrative justice as a special dispute resolution mechanism that eliminates this difference.

Henceforth, when resolving disputes, the court will have the right to initiate the collection of additional evidence, the responsibility for collecting which will fall on the state body, and not on a citizen or business.

All contradictions and ambiguities of legislation should be interpreted in favor of citizens.

I would also like to focus on the following important issue.

We have moved away from excessive repressive measures and harsh punitive justice practices. However, numerous serious crimes are still taking place in the country.

We got carried away with the humanization of legislation, while losing sight of the fundamental rights of citizens.

It is urgently necessary to toughen penalties for sexual violence, pedophilia, drug distribution, human trafficking, domestic violence against women and other serious crimes against the person, especially against children. This is my assignment to the Parliament and the Government.

Recent tragic events have also revealed the problem of poaching as the most dangerous form of organized crime.

Poachers are equipped, armed, and feel their impunity. Just this year, two wildlife inspectors died at their hands.

Recently, the criminal activities of a gang of poachers on Lake Markakol in the East Kazakhstan region were suppressed.