Doctrine must outline timeless values: Vice President of Association of Koreans in Kazakhstan G.Kan
Timeless values must be outlined in the document, believes Vice President of the Association of Koreans in Kazakhstan, professor, member of the Scientific-Expert Council of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan Georgiy Kan.
Mr. Kan, what requirements should the Doctrine meet to get imbued by each person and be able to unite the multinational Kazakh population?
Being a historian, I believe that the notion of doctrine in social development of state appears in that moment when the human factor comes to the fore and it is necessary to use its spiritual powers. Different laws adopted in our country, mechanisms for their realization function as well. But finally they all depend on a man, his interior. Today is the very historic moment when participation of each person in the social development is necessary. The Doctrine is connected with this factor in the global aspect.
I had the honor to deliver a speech at the last anniversary session of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan. I think that it is a powerful mechanism in realization of the policy of interethnic relations. It was right decision to make national unity the main issue of the session. The unity as our strategic option was the main idea of the session. The Head of the state noted that special session of the Assembly will be held for adoption of the Doctrine.
The main thing is that the draft Doctrine submitted for nationwide discussion, i.e. everyone has an opportunity to comprehend the document and contribute to its development. Political parties, NGOs, ethno-cultural associations can take part in this work. We must comprehend the fact that we don't have anything more sacred then unity. And we should do our best to make this fact the most important one.
Everyone knows the Monroe Doctrine developed and adopted during the governing of the fifth American President. It was the base of the economic power and prosperity of the USA. It is still topical today. The world practice shows that "doctrine" notion firstly reflects ideology and then goes theory, principles and mechanisms of realization.
We must admit the opinion that all ethno-cultural associations separated with their national cultural centers. Each of them studies their language, culture, traditions and their isolation exists some way. What is your opinion on this matter?
The unity doesn't deny variety. The unity must go through variety. I often lecture abroad, for different audiences, especially for youth. And it is always complicated to answer the question what the Kazakh model of interethnic accord is. I had such situation in the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute in Tokyo. And I explained that the majority of nationalities living in Kazakhstan appeared here in the result of forced migrations. And they all remember it and are grateful for the Kazakh people and country. The rout of our tolerance is gratitude. But the rout grows from the ground, and the ground is the mentality of the Kazakh people - the state-forming ethnos.
This mentality is common to all ethno geneses of the Kazakh people. There is a great formula in the Kazakh Constitution: "We, people of Kazakhstan, united by common history build state at Kazakh land". These values should be laid in the basis of the Doctrine. These are accord and peace. Everyone knows such idioms as German punctuality, American businesslike character. "Kazakh tolerance" term has already appeared.
Tolerance is based on the historical memory, but what about our younger generation? What should their tolerance be based on?
For our younger generation we create a brief history under the aegis of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan. It is called "Kazakhstan People's Assembly - a historical sketch". I am a representative of the first generation of the deported Koreans born in Kazakhstan. We told our children about our historical past, but our grandsons are not interested in it. They live in a quite different world and a new country. Thus at the recent sitting it was proposed to introduce a new discipline "Fundamentals of tolerance" in Kazakhstan's schools. Our task is to create an interesting and comprehensive book where a representative of any nationality can find the history of his ethnos. The book is full of bright historical facts that our tolerance is based on. It is very important for the state and its citizens that every child can study his historical roots from school-days.
If a majority of multi-ethnic countries consider this factor as vulnerability, we have a chance to turn it into our strength. A perfect example is holding of such activities as the Year of Kazakhstan in Germany. The next year is declared the Year of Kazakhstan in Korea. Such activities will greatly contribute to development of relations between Kazakhstan and different countries. They represent a real instrument of strengthening of cooperation in our globalized world. The reality reveals severe competitiveness among the states. In this context we have to use such notions as patriotism.
A noteworthy example is the experience of South Korea that made a great breakthrough in its development over the last decades. South Korean students can take a voluntary exam on history. If a student gets an excellent mark, what is very difficult to do, he or she has an advantage of other candidates for employment and career progression, since the competition is this country is very stiff. It is a voluntary step, but how it mobilizes a person! It is namely the case when the knowledge of history of your country is expressed in material terms. This is a tangible demonstration of patriotism.
How will you discuss the Doctrine in the Korean Diaspora?
It is worthy of note that the Doctrine arouses genuine interest in people. Currently it is under development. We appreciate all opinions though they can be far from scientific statements. We are going to comprehend and generalize all of them. They say that our society is characterized with peace and accord as it is. Why do we need a Doctrine? Isn't it a tribute to fashion? Yes, we live in concord. But the world is full of various challenges that can threaten our unity.
The Doctrine will be adopted at a special session of the Assembly. As is known the Assembly is an element of the state policy mechanism. The issues of participation of national minorities in the political leadership were discussed at one of the meetings with OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek. There exist the so called Bretton Woods recommendations, but they are non-relevant for Kazakhstan. The mechanism of participation of the national minorities in the government of the state is performed through the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan, its deputies in the Majilis of the Kazakhstan Parliament. Kazakhstan is going to negotiate this issue within the OSCE. All these issues are our national endow and know-how.
This year the delegation of the People's Assembly participated in the meetings in the Russian State Duma, Agency on CIS Compatriots Affairs. The most important issue that was raised at those meetings is Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the OSCE in 2010. Besides, we have the honor to read a course of lectures on Kazakhstan's model of interethnic tolerance at the Lomonosov Moscow State University.