Future of Kazakhstan should be based on language, culture and traditions
Welcome to Kazakhstan, Mr. Abdulatipov! As it is know, the experience of Kazakhstan in preservation of international and interreligious accord is appreciated in many countries. Today the assembly of People of Kazakhstan submitted for discussion the draft Doctrine of the National Unity. What can you offer to increase the efficiency of the document?
I believe that the next stage of development comes after the years of independent development of Kazakhstan and due to the policy of President N.Nazarbayev. This is the stage of reorganization of people of Kazakhstan into a single nation - the so called civil nation. It is important not to lose the diversity, peculiarities of representatives of different nationalities while uniting them into one nation as well. In this regard, great responsibility is rested on the Kazakh-speaking mass media. The international scientific seminar "Role of the mass media in strengthening of the international tolerance" was held recently in Astana. Outstanding journalists and scientists took part in the forum. They discussed the issues of development of the information space of the interethnic accord and its preservation.
There are such notions as "group rights" and "individual rights". The western countries always put individual right first, and we comprehended everything from the point of view of group rights. The Doctrine of the National Unity provides some groundwork, but from the point of view of designation of this problem, the Doctrine should be improved. Otherwise, the Doctrine needs a special program for its successful realization. There exists Kazakhstan's experience for it, and the President who follows this policy. And very good institute of the civil society - the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan - was established for it. I can state that national policy of President N.Nazarbayev and Kazakhstan has good prospects.
What differences in the development of international accord in Kazakhstan and Russia can you name?
Many of Kazakhstan's today activities were taken from the experience of our joint life in the Soviet Union. We are people of one philosophy, one so called soviet culture. But there are some people who disagree with it, they are mostly youth. Of course, the international relations have great potential for unity, solidarity. In this regard the youth should arm themselves with patience and continue all good things that we started.
I must admit that we established the Assembly of Peoples of Russia on the basis of documents and experience of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan. We have learned much from the Kazakh Assembly but still didn't reach its level.
In your opinion, what is the international according in Kazakhstan based on? How do you manage to preserve international accord in Russia?
I think that the base of the international accord in Kazakhstan is in the idea of Eurasianism. I believe that this idea can become an idea uniting all post-soviet space. The idea of peace and cooperation underlying the Eurasianism was supported in Kazakhstan and today it becomes global Eurasianism idea.
Russia is a big multinational country with many languages and cultures. We have many subjects of the federation that efficiently work in the sphere of interethnic relations. These are Orenburg, Tomsk regions, Udmurtia, Moscow, and others.
What is the role of mass media in strengthening of interethnic relations?
Earlier all of them were state mass media. Today the situation has changed. I think that the mass media haven't find its place in the society yet. New culture has not formed in the society yet. Journalists have to back out of their own principals.
What needs to be done to improve the level of work of journalists covering such important themes as the international accord?
I believe that state should support journalists covering such themes. For example, it is possible to provide such mass media with tax preferences.
What could you whish Kazakhstan where representatives of different nationalities live peacefully?
The process of establishment of international accord and sovereignty in Kazakhstan passes less painfully compared to other post-soviet states. People should see their place inn the new social formation. As N.Nazarbayev said, Kazakhstan will stay in his heart. As well as each representative of every nation must find place in the heart of Kazakhstan.
Thank you for the interview. We wish you success in your work!