Kazakhstan's language policy: rights of every nation to enjoy mother tongue and culture.

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From Kazinform.org

http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=137256

29.10 / 12:23 Kazakhstan Peoples Assembly contributed to national
diplomacy development, Majilis Deputy

ASTANA. October 29. KAZINFORM. /Aibatyr Baimen/ This year the Kazakhstan
Peoples Assembly will mark its 10th anniversary. There is no such an
organization worldwide. The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called it the
United Nations Organizations within Kazakhstan highly appreciating its
activity.  Majilis deputy, the Assembly member Murat Karimov gave an
interview to the KAZINFORM correspondent. It is devoted to the Assemblys
anniversary, friendship, solidarity of the people resided in Kazakhstan.

-Mr Karimov, how would you assess the Kazakhstan Peoples Assembly?

-It is regarded to be a unique institution. Established in Kazakhstan it
is called to regulate the relations of various nationalities of the
country. Republican and regional public and cultural centers as the part
of the Assembly have opportunities and rights to speak without disguise
and straight out about the problems, renounce or agree with the policy or
ministries and Governments actions. The Assembly is the single peoples
organ uniting all nationalities and ethnos of Kazakhstan. The
representatives of all nations have equal rights despite their race,
religious or language brackets.


-What would you say about the language policy?

-The founder and the chair of the Assembly the Head of the State Nursultan
Nazarbayev delivering an address noted that every member of the
organization may speak his (her) native language. I have once addressed
the colleagues in the native Tatar language. Id like to offer to voice the
part of the speeches in Kazakh. It would be some manifestation of respect
to the state language, to the country we live in.

And the fact that practically all people of the multinational country are
taking active part in cultural events, art festivals, scientific
conferences, etc., initiated by our national centers evidences mutual
respect and mutual cultural enrichment.

Nauryz Meiramy granted the state holiday status has become truly
nationwide. The representatives of all nationalities of the republic
celebrated 150th jubilees of the great leaders of Kazakh national
literature Abai and Zhambyl. We reverence theses names like Turkmenistan
venerates Makhtumkuli, Georgia bows to Shota Rustaveli, Tatarstan pays
homage to the genius of Gabdolla Tokay, Uzbekistan worships Alisher Navoi.

I think the Peoples Assembly of Kazakhstan has made significant
contribution to the national diplomacy development, elevating its role and
its meaning up to the state status. Such steps impose particular
responsibility on every citizen despite his nationality. The realization
of the pursued policy depends on everyone for we are all equal nationals
of Kazakhstan. Id like to highlight that our Assembly fortifies the amity,
unanimity of the people enhancing countrys stability.

Kazinform Note: above 130 nations and nationalities reside to date in
Kazakhstan. The Peoples Assembly engaged in elaboration of strategic tasks
of the state national policy has been founded back to 1995 to exercise the
constitutional rights of every nation abiding in Kazakhstan to enjoy
mother tongue and culture.

The permanent organ under the President of Kazakhstan, Assemblys
Secretariat, deputy chairman are to execute the taken decisions.