Remarks by Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev at the opening of the Eighth Eurasian Media Forum
27.04.2009Dear participants and guests of the Eurasian Media Forum!
Ladies and gentlemen!
I am glad to welcome you during these spring days to our wonderful southern capital of Almaty where we got together to objectively and competently discuss the most pressing problems of our fast changing world.
In eight years, the Eurasian Media Forum has gained wide international acclaim. More than 500 delegates from 60 countries have taken part in it.
The subjects for past forums were important problems such as separatism, unrecognized states, the rights of journalists, terrorism, regional security, real and virtual politics. Yet today, the focus of attention is, quite naturally, the global economic crisis.
Kazakhstan, being integrated into the global economy, also feels affected by the global crisis. Yet, our country is special in a way. Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev has unique experience of anti-crisis management thanks to which our your country was able to successfully overcome negative consequences of both the most wide scale social and economic crisis in the post-Soviet area caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the Asian and the Russian financial crises of 1997 through 1999.
During all these past years we have worked arduously to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of our economy, pursued conscientious saving policies. We have managed to create a good reserve of financial sustainability. Thanks to the correct economic strategy, we have managed to preserve the financial and economic sectors, continue fulfilling our social obligations and mobilize in the most effective way in order to meet new challenges. One should note that today’s situation is fundamentally different from the previous crises in that Kazakhstan meets it in a new quality, as a fully grown state with the strong reserve of durability and in good international standing.
Today, in all fairness, one should give credit to President Nazarbayev’s strategic foresight when in 2000 he decided to create a National Fund to accumulate excess revenues from the extractive industries. This Fund had accumulated more than 27 billion dollars out which today, at President’s instructions, 10 billion dollars are being spent on our anti-crisis program. And Kazakhstan doesn’t have to seek credit internationally.
Kazakhstan’s concrete and transparent anti-crisis program provides measures to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability, solve problems in the real estate market, support small and medium-sized businesses, agriculture and social guarantees. All in all, the state has allocated about 18 billion dollars which is 14 percent of the gross domestic product.
We understand, however, that at the peak of the crisis it is necessary to focus not only on short term measures. Today, it is important to understand its deep-rooted reasons and work actively to build the architecture of the future global financial system.
The very crisis itself we see as a process which, with right management, will allow improving the effectiveness the entire global economy. Yet, this is possible only with the adequate understanding of modern realities and the review of existing paradigms of thinking.
One of the first world leaders to talk about that was our President who, in his famous article, The Keys to the Crisis, has offered a new vision for renovating the global economic order. Such a vision of building a post-crisis world, which is beyond the ordinary, has received a great deal of interest from the international community and the support of leaders of several major states and recognized international economists. The essence of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s idea is the introduction a singly world reserve currency.
The results of the G20 summit in London, and the impetus on strengthening the International Monetary Fund and increasing the role of Special Drawing Rights, basically, say that there is a growing recognition around the world of the need to create a fairer and more balanced international financial system.
Of course, many changes will be required, primarily, in our mindsets. Yet, as Alfred Whitehead, a renowned English sociologist, once noted, “The art of moving progress is in preserving order while making changes and in making changes while preserving order.” There is a tough long path ahead but we must set on this path today.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Winston Churchill used to say that “democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” We all also remember Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” expression. Today, however, harsh realities force us to learn that the state should play a stronger regulating role since it risks too much by yielding economy’s sustainability to that invisible hand. There is no need to list here numerous examples of corporations and banks nationalized or bailed out by the governments in the United States, the United Kingdom and other nations, or of introducing strict limitations on banking activities and so on that confirm this thesis.
It is quite appropriate instead to recall a formula of the “Kazakhstan way” of development followed by our country under the leadership of our first President. This concept of evolutionary state-building under the complicated conditions of both economic and political transit became a blending of the European reformism, pragmatism and democratic procedure on the one hand and Asian traditionalism and active presence of state in public life on the other. The principle known as “economy first, then politics” gave our nation years of progressive economic growth and solid reserve of durability, which became an effective “life airbag” in these tough times of crisis. Today, President Nazarbayev’s strategy of advance economic reforms followed by consistent political liberalization became a secure foundation for stability of our multiethnic society and the sustainable social and economic development.
No matter how tough the current economic crisis is, it will end sooner or later. And therefore we must be aware of other challenges facing humanity today.
One of them is a so called ‘clash of civilizations’. Although the threat of such a clash remains quite real, it definitely does not make a decisive trend of contemporary days. It is true that we witness saddening examples of Islamophobia in the West, as well as of Occidentophobia in Muslim countries. This has a number of reasons of both objective and subjective nature. The way to solving this problem lies in better understanding of each other, mutual trust, and promoting dialog among cultures and civilizations.
Kazakhstan, relying on its positive experience of strengthening peace, accord and unity within our multiethnic society is seeking to make a positive impact in this respect.
At President Nazarbayev’s initiative, this July in Astana we will be hosting the 3rd Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will bring together both religious leaders and prominent politicians from various countries.
As chairman-in-office of both the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2010 and the Organization of Islamic Conference in 2011 Kazakhstan intends to use this unique period of great responsibility in order to strengthen the dialog and trust in Eurasia, primarily among the West and the Muslim countries. It is in this context that we strongly welcome President Barrack Obama’s commitment to dialog and greater understanding with the Muslim world.
There is one more, perhaps, the most global challenge of all and that is of strengthening the regime of nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and eventually, of freeing the world from nuclear weapons.
Kazakhstan, having voluntarily renounced the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal, has brought an important contribution to ensuring global security. We remain a firm and consistent advocate of the global non-proliferation, and, eventually, freeing the world from nuclear weapons.
That is why we support any positive trends in this sphere, including, most certainly, recent initiatives by U.S. and Russian presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev in the area of nuclear disarmament and strengthening the non-proliferation regime. These steps are in line with the principled positions presented by President Nursultan Nazarbayev on numerous occasions at the UN, other forums, and in personal meetings with heads of nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states. Today, one can say that the leaders of main nuclear weapon states have heeded the calls from Kazakhstan’s President, all consistent and firm supporters of the non-proliferation process from many countries about the need to free the planet from the nuclear threat.
It is especially valuable that the United States and Russia, the world’s two main nuclear weapon powers, intend to show an example of disarmament as per their obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. This should become a powerful stimulus for other nuclear weapon states to leave up to their obligations regarding deeper cuts of their nuclear arsenals.
Kazakhstan, being one of the world’s largest producers of natural uranium, firmly stands for the strengthening of the security of the nuclear fuel cycle and the reduction of risks of proliferation of fissile materials. That is why we believe the idea to create an international nuclear fuel bank under IAEA auspices very timely and relevant. This is especially timely today to support the countries’ rights for the development of peaceful atomic energy, especially against the backdrop of global warming caused by unprecedented carbon dioxide emissions. As is known, our President stated his readiness to review the possibility of hosting the fuel bank in Kazakhstan which was publicly supported by President Makhmoud Akhmadinejad of Iran. Moreover, this has met positive reaction in the world’s leading capitals and the international anti-nuclear movement. That is yet another convincing evidence of our country’s and our President’s firm commitment to non-proliferation.
In the end, our common goal is to achieve global nuclear disarmament. And in this context, the example of Kazakhstan and other countries which voluntarily renounced nuclear weapons should become the most correct path to reaching that high and noble goal.
Today, faced with the gravest economic crisis in the world, we see the unprecedented consolidation of many and many countries to overcome its consequences. Even more so, the world needs to unite to free the planet from the sword of Damocles of the nuclear threat.
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
We hope timely problems of modernity and the vision of a future post-crisis world will be discussed at this forum in a lively, creative and free format. This will be a world where the Eurasian community founded on equality, free participation and pragmatic interest will be considered as a global factor of world economy and politics of the 21st century.
We believe your work will help find solutions to the financial and economic crisis, achieve progress in the complex process of establishing a fair balance of interests among all countries.
This crisis has yet again shown a special role played by the mass media, the exceptional importance of their objectivity and constructive tone in interpreting the reality.
The media today, in a sense, come across as one of the most important anti-crisis resources. International experts note that the main reason for the deepening of the global crisis is the lack of confidence. The restoration of trust among people and states, the restoration of citizens’ confidence in tomorrow is one of the highest and noblest tasks for the journalist community and the mass media.
We view the Eurasian Media Forum as a unique discussion venue, an established and recognized international institution. We are grateful to the organizers and participants of the forum for their firmness and commitment to its principles and activities. There is no doubt that the Eighth Eurasian Media Forum will be interesting, fruitful and effective.
I would like to note especially that Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev from the first days of the Fund’s existence gives it his unwavering attention and support.
Another convincing evidence of this is the address from our President to the participants of this forum. For me, it is a great honor and privilege to read it to you.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Ak Orda, Astana
April 2009
To the participants and guests of the 8th Eurasian Media Forum
I am glad to welcome all the participants and guests of the 8th Eurasian Media Forum!
This forum takes place during a complex period in the development of mankind. The international community is going through the most wide-ranging financial and economic crisis in history which broke out against the backdrop of an unstable international political situation.
Today, resolute steps by all countries are needed to develop new forms of international cooperation and interaction, which can stabilize the development of the world’s economy and overcome global disproportions.
Kazakhstan has been and remains a venue for dialog about the most pressing problems of modernity. We are ready to participate actively in the search for solutions to the global economic crisis and in creating a new global architecture.
This is the Eighth Eurasian Media Forum in Almaty bringing together respected experts, famous politicians and journalists. Here, the most relevant international problems are traditionally discussed and new approaches are developed to solving those problems.
The idea behind the forum is in line with the strategy of development of our country which is that further development of the modern world is only possible through dialog and partnership, mutual understanding and respect.
I wish all the participants of the Eurasian Media Forum constructive work, fruitful discussions and more optimism in our tough times.
Nursultan Nazarbayev
I join our President in his wishes and I wish everybody wellbeing and success.
Thank you for your attention.
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