Political parties in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan's political parties, NGOs and Media

The ideas of a civil society, a law-abiding state and free market economy were taken as a basis of our country's development. Basic principles of civil society in Kazakhstan are the recognition of ideological and political pluralism and separation of state and public institutions. Citizen's rights to establish political, public and professional organizations are legally protected.

The development of non-governmental organizations is one of the most significant achievements. They carry out the role of intermediaries between the State and citizens, commit many functions of social transformation in the society, and contribute a lot to various areas of social life: human rights, democracy, elections, ecology, equal rights of women in the society, consumer rights, youth rights, single mothers and families with many children, orphans, invalids, victims of illegal reprisals, etc.

More than 4,500 non-governmental organizations are functioning in the country today, solving social problems and promoting more active involvement of citizens in the society's democratization processes. About 35 thousand individuals are permanently employed by NGOs, 50 thousand are temporarily employed as experts and more than 100 thousand individuals act as volunteers. At the first stage of their development, non-governmental organizations existed basically on foreign grants. During this time, more than 500 non-governmental organizations were established. These non-governmental organizations were aimed basically at civil rights protection.

The 1998 Program of democratization of the country increased the role of non-governmental organizations as a key element of the democratization of Kazakhstan society. Conditions of non-governmental sector development have changed cardinally today. Comprehension of the important role of this social institute by the society is progressing now. The quality of organizational and practical support by the state of non-governmental organizations acquires now a special meaning.

In 2001 the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On not-for-profit organizations" was adopted and became a real step towards the recognition of the role and place of non-governmental organizations. Registration of the non-governmental organizations was greatly simplified.

The Concept of State support of non-governmental organizations was adopted in January 2002. It determines the purposes and priorities of state support of non-governmental organizations. Recognized leaders of the non-governmental sector, as well as representatives of international organizations (UNDP, TASIS and Counterpart Consortium) took part in the development of the Concept.

The Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Program of state support of non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2003-2005 ", was adopted in 2003. The purpose of the Program of state support to non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the creation of conditions for the sustainable development of non-governmental organizations as an indispensable part of the civil society and strengthening of their role in resolving significant social problems of the society on the basis of interaction with the Government. Development of the new Laws "On non-governmental organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan" and "On the State social order" has begun. Laws are aimed at the formation of the new model of relations in realization of the social policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, creation of steady and effective system of relations between the state and public sector, maintenance the legal basis of activity of non-governmental organizations and carrying out of the State social order by them on a competitive basis.

In Kazakhstan there are 9 officially registered political parties. Agrarian party of Kazakhstan The head of the party is Madinov Romin Rizovich. The party was registered the 16th of March 1999. There 60,000 members of this party. The party has structural subdivisions in 12 regions, cities, in Astana and Almaty. The social basis of the party is rural commodity producers, farmers, small business owners, rural cooperatives and partnerships. Party goals: - protection of the agrarian workers' political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights and interests; - active participation in political life of the society; - influence the formation of political will of peasants, village inhabitants; - participation in the elections to the central and local state bodies; - to promote the economic development of the agrarian branch, its social status and living standards improvement. At the elections to the Majilis (lower Chamber of Parliament) 19 September 2004 the Agrarian party participated within Agrarian industrial union of workers. They got 7.07% of the vote. Civil party of Kazakhstan First secretary of the party - Peruashev Azat Turlybekovich. The party was registered the 29th of December, 1999. There are 100 thousand members of the party. The party has branches in every region, in Astana and Almaty. Its social basis is representation of industrial enterprises, workers, and engineers. Party goals are: - statehood strengthening and development; - formation of legal state principals; - equality in the eye of the law; - purification of state bodies from corrupt civil servants; - to bring law and order in all spheres of state and public life; - business expansion; - strengthening the material well-being and social status of citizen and family. At single mandate district Party elected to the Majilis deputies 14 of its members. The democratic party of Kazakhstan "Ak zhol" The head of the party is Baimenov Alikhan Mukhamedievich. The party was registered the 3rd of March 2004. There 172 thousand members. Party goals: independent, flourishing, democratic and free Kazakhstan. Fundamental values: democracy, independence, freedom and justice. The party "Ak zhol" is one of the initiators of the creation of the 3 party Coordination council (DVK, KPK and Ak zhol) for candidate nomination from the opposition at the 2006 presidential elections. The party actively participates in conciliation commissions among the opposition on recommendations drafting further democratization of Kazakhstan. During Majilis elections the party got 12.04% of the vote. In the Majilis there are two mandates of the party. Democratic party of Kazakhstan The party is headed by Narikbayev Maksyt Sultanovich. The party was registered the 14th of June 2004. There are 60 thousand members. The party has its branches in all regions of Kazakhstan. The principal goal is to build in Kazakhstan a legal democratic social state; to create an effective and developed economic system, the formation of civil society. There is one deputy in the Majilis. During the elections to the Majilis received 0.76% of the vote. The Communist party of Kazakhstan The party is headed by Abdyldyn Serykbolsun Abdyldaevich. Registered the 28th of February 1994, re-registered the 17th of February 1997. There are 100 thousand members. Represented in all regions of Kazakhstan. Members are war and labor veterans, workers, and pensioners. Principal goals: create the conditions in order to build a society of freedom and social justice based on principles of scientific socialism; to build a communist system. The party is oppositional. During the Majilis elections in 2004 the Communist party got 3.44% of the vote, has no mandates in Parliament. Communist national party of Kazakhstan First secretary is Kosarev Vladislav. Registered the 21st of June 2004. There 70 thousand members. Workers, students, intelligentsia, pensioners, unemployed and entrepreneurs support the party. The activity is based on Marxist-Leninist ideology adapted to the actual conditions of social development. During the elections to the Majilis in 2004 the party got 1.98% of the vote. It has no deputies in the Majilis. Republican political party "Otan" The party is headed by Zhumagulov Bahitzhan. The party was registered in February 1999. There are approximately 200 thousand members. "Otan" is represented in all regions, in Astana and Almaty. Its social basis is civil servants, students, creative and scientific intelligentsia, and entrepreneurs. Party goals: - to contribute to economic and political reforms; - raise the people's living standards; - establishment of social stability and reservation of state stability; - strengthening of international and inter-faith accord; There are 53 deputies from this party in Parliament. Republican political party "Asar" The head of the party is Nazarbayeva Dariga Nursultanovna. It was registered in December 2003. There are approximately 200 thousand members. "Asar" declares to build an economically strong, democratic, legal and social state with developed institutions of civil society, deepening democratic transformations, and Kazakhstanis' welfare improvement. During the elections to the Majilis the party got 11.38% and has four deputies in Parliament. "Ruhaniyat" party (spirituality) The party is headed by Zhaganova Altynshash Kairzhanovna. The party was registered the 6th of October 2003. There are 53,931 members. Its social basis is education, public health, science and cultural sphere workers, civil servants, administrative and engineering personnel , entrepreneurs, students. Party goals:economic growth, resolving of social issues, development of a society of high morals and spiritual wealth. They would play the shaft role between executive power and the people. They got 0.44% of votes and have no deputy in Parliament.

59. The world economic relations of Kazakhstan play a great role in its making and development as a sovereign state. Economic and social problems of the Republic of Kazakhstan are too deep and versatile, that they may be solved only by radical changes of the whole system of the world economic relations under conditions of a mixed economy, because the contemporary world is complicated, diverse, dynamic and interdependent.

Interdependence of countries of the world community is based on the internationalization of the economic life that is seen in the internationalization of production, science, culture, mode of life and working conditions and on the development of international labor division.

It is well known that now even the most developed and largest states are not able on their own, without any relations with other countries to go ahead in science and technology, to make social and economic progress and to create conditions for effective production of all the necessary goods and services.

Such kind of tasks can be solved only thanks to international cooperation. It is especially important for those countries that are lagging behind in their development.

Specific features of Kazakhstan lie in the fact that at one and the same time it has the characteristics of a developed country (general literacy of the population, a wide network of educational establishments of culture and everyday life, research institutes, space research centres) and of a developing country ( raw materials direction of the economy, ecologically disastrous situation in many regions, a great need in foreign investments and new technologies and non-development of infrastructure).

In addition to this all, Kazakhstan has a vast territory (it takes the ninthplace in the world), intercontinental location without an outlet to the sea, i.e. it is far from the world sea routes. And railway, oil and gas pipelines as means of transport are not developed eno ng to the absolute indexes (production of oil, gas, ferrous and rare metals, grain) the RK is one of the potential partners of the world trade, according to the relative indexes (the GDP per capita) it is far from taking the leading place among foreign and CIS countries. It speaks about the fact that Kazakhstan is not participating sufficiently enough in international labor division and does not take advantage of increasing the economic efficiency as a whole.

It has become obvious that one of the reasons of such a situation is the old system of organizing foreign economic relations, when these relations were implemented only by foreign trade organizations which were oriented mainly towards raw materials export.

For the solution of the problem of an active participation of Kazakhstani industry in international labor division, it is necessary to enlarge the rights of the primary section of the foreign economic sphere and to give them the right of the direct outlet to the external market.

Thus, the transition to a more open economy in the process of foreign economic reforms may become an important level of stimulating the STP (scientific technological progress) in the country. And one of the practical steps in this field is to open joint ventures (GV) with enterprises, organizations and companies of foreign and CIS countries, that will promote to attract the sophisticated technical managerial experience and to create the competitive situation in the internal market of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The scale and the rate of industrial development of joint ventures in different countries are stipulated mainly by the character of the investment climate. But at the same time the joint entrepreneurship may be stimulated not only by pure economic motives, but also by group interests of different countries.

So, the solution of such difficult socio-economic problems envisages not the isolation from the outer world, on the contrary, the active interaction with each other, but not only receiving humanitarian aid or direct credits, though the latter depends on the solvency of the country.

But when we speak about efficient international economic cooperation another question is posed: what countries are to be given the priority in solving such a serious and comprehensive task? Of course, it is not easy to answer this question.

In a developed market economy the solution of such a question first of all depends on the economic entities themselves. The state also may play a great role stimulating or controlling different directions and forms of economic relations. Besides, it should be kept in mind that we shouldn’t give up everything inherent to the command-administrative system. We should try to preserve those elements that were used in the world practice because there is no pure market economy anywhere. We shouldn’t continue destroying the economic foundations of state power, because the state cannot disappear as the factor of economic development and regulation.

The state must act as a representative and defender of interests of all nations, of all the strata of the population.

We are at the initial stage of our way to the market. That’s why the state is still playing a considerable role than in a developed market economy. That’s why it’s the economic strategy and foreign policy, and the real national interests depend on the state and are of keen interest.

While speaking about the possible partners on international economic cooperation, it is necessary to underline that we don’t mean some definite countries. Their choice depends on many attendant circumstances. First of all, we should determine what group of countries to orientate and to what extent.

There is no any doubt in the fact that today it is especially important to continue economic cooperation with the CIS countries because we have much in common with them and not only in the economic sphere. And further uncontrolled destruction of these ties is fraught with huge misfortunes and losses. The same situation is with the former CMEA partners in the economic aspects. But the importance of these two directions in international cooperation in no case must shield the other ones.

Nazarbayev N.A., President of the RK, in his report "Independence of Kazakhstan: the lessons of history and the contemporary world", devoted to the 5^th anniversary of the republic noted: "Integration efforts in one direction must not mean to reject integration in other vectors. The more so, that not all the broken economic ties with the former partners in building socialism can be restored because partial reorientation to other partners has already taken place. But at the same time we shouldn’t overlook the transition state of our economy and non-adjustedness of the mechanism of the world economic ties. Under these circumstances it is reasonable to pool efforts in order to expand and consolidate economic cooperation with the countries of the West and South that have gained huge experience in this sphere."

National and economic interests of Kazakhstan are very complicated and diverse that they may be ensured properly only by expanding cooperation with different countries and groups of countries, i.e. in other words, with developed and developing countries.

There can be no doubt about the particular importance of the economic ties with industrially developed countries of the West (democratically and economically compared with the South). But unfortunately, we can’t help taking into account the fact that Kazakhstan is not ready yet to large-scaled economic cooperation with western countries both as an exporter and an importer. At present, alas, we cannot suggest anything but raw materials (oil, gas, coal, metals). As far as raw materials are concerned, because of the reduction of their material and energy capacity the prospects are not very glowing.

In order to realize its export possibilities connected with different scientific projects like the conversion of military production, Kazakhstan needs time and money. In many cases Kazakhstani market is still alien to the West. And it happens not only because of the limited import possibilities, stipulated by the lack of currency resources. There are some other complicated problems arising from the backwardness of our civil economy that is incapable to satisfy the real needs and wants, i.e. goods and services and new technologies, the creation of which in the West is the core of the economy.

All these processes cannot be fulfilled in a twinkling of an eye, they must correspond to reality and real possibilities. Of course, this process may be accelerated but only to a certain extent and quite differently in different directions. Unless we take all these requirements into account, we can’t achieve the expected results. That’s why to try to speed up importing of everything advanced (advanced production methods, advanced experience, technologies), is very unwise. So, the expansion and strengthening of economic relations with foreign and CIS countries would facilitate the republic to go out of the current difficulties and to make a certain contribution to the process of economic revival of Kazakhstan.

But it will be possible only with the view of the appropriate strategy of development for the near and distant future though it would be Kazakhstani industry.

The main thing is to determine correctly the strategy of development for 2030 soberly assessing the real needs and possibilities of Kazakhstan with regard to its place and role in the economic (and political) area in the CIS and the world community as a whole. And to avoid possible losses connected with the so-called "invention of a bicycle", it is high time for Kazakhstan to learn a lesson from the world and its own experience. Without such reorientation it is impossible to speak about the genuine economic revival of Kazakhstan and take a dignified place in the world economy. That’s why carrying out the economic reforms, striving for the stabilization of the economic and political situation, it is very important under the existing circumstances not to be held up at the practically inevitable stage of import-substitution or even superseding.

The talk, of course, about processing industry which has a very ramified and multilevel structure of production, that it cannot develop successfully within the framework of one, suppose, very large and economically highly developed country. And this peculiarity has become extremely vivid at the present stage of scientific and technological progress considerably complicating its structure and expanding the total assortment of products manufactured. In agriculture which is the basis of the vital activity o ensive export development must be put off. And it must be done on the basis of diversification and improvement of its structure, i.e. by promoting the products of processing industry to the world market. The possibilities of specialization and cooperation in this field, compared with the strictly fixed types of mineral or agricultural products, are limitless. Besides the elasticity demand for production goods is considerably high than for raw materials.

The urgency of development of industrial export is dictated not only by the lack of currency to pay for the vitally important import and to reimburse foreign debts in due time, but also for confirmation of its solvency. It is also very important not to make the same mistakes, to reduce the emergence and support of inefficient industrial productions to a minimum, that together with unprofitable agrarian structures destroyed the vitality of our economy in the past. The creation of the competitive environment in the internal market and integration of developing industry into the world economy are the most effective ways to avoid the above mentioned negative factors. Further market transformations in Kazakhstan, revival and development of the national economy are closely connected with attracting foreign investment resources. Besides, because of huge foreign debts ($ 5.7 billion, more than 25% of GDP) Kazakhstan is in great need of direct foreign investments (not in the form of credits and loans).

According to data of the Agency of Strategic Planning of the RK, now the republic is ready to use up 1.5 billion dollars of foreign investment capital annually.

Of course, there are some negative factors influencing directly or indirectly the investment climate in the Republic of Kazakhstan. So far the republic has no reliable transport communications with the markets of Europe, America or Asia. The weak and instable legal foundation does not enable the foreign firms to be sure in the near future and to expect the return of their invested capital.

Now it has become obvious that one of the basic conditions of ensuring stable development of Kazakhstan is the high investment activity (among the CIS countries Kazakhstan takes the 2^nd place after Russia, from 1989 to 1996 it came to the amount of 2761 mln dollars of the USA, Russia – 5100 mln, Ukraine – 1167 mln; it is approximately 167 dollars of the direct investment per capita).

At present Kazakhstan is developing its financial cooperation with a number of international financial and economic organizations (IFEO) such as the IMF, IBRD, ABD, EBRD, IBD, and with the governments of such donor-countries as South Korea, Japan, the FRG, the USA and others.

During the period of 1996-1998 in accordance with the financial obligations it was declared at the Tokyo meeting of the Consultative group of the donor-countries in Kazakhstan to grant credits or loans in the amount of 1350 mln dollars of the US. (US $ 1350 mln)

But the question is: What are the terms and conditions of these investments?

Because in a few years they may turn into the financial burden for the ordinary people.

Investment inflows are mainly directed to mining industry of Kazakhstan. We can speak about the efficiency of investments when they are directed to agriculture, industry, and infrastructure.

But investment inflows in the amount over US $ 6 billion during 1992-1997 couldn’t improve the production level by creating working places and many other social issues.

The world practice shows that those countries that have got considerable investment inflows are not rich in mineral resources (unlike Kazakhstan).

Kazakhstan today is a universally recognized state which is known at the worst as the Former Soviet Republic, and at the best – as the country with rather developed industry and agriculture and rich in mineral resources.

For example, the average assessment of the resources of the Caspian Sea Shelf and of the continental part enables us to start the extraction of the total deposits in the amount of 19 billion tonnes of oil equivalents.

That’s why Kazakhstan is regarded by foreign investors as one of the main suppliers of energy items in the XXI century.

But now Kazakhstan is experiencing the lack of export capacities. And it, naturally, restrains the growth of oil and gas extraction. That’s why in the end of 1998 the government began the construction of a pipeline with the participation of the newly formed Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).

At the same time for the republic it is economically justified to export raw materials by railway transport means or tankers on the Caspian Sea. And the investors who are engaged in oil and gas, mining and other branches of industry have already been issued 630 licences.

The expected amount of investments for 23 years is valued at US $ 90 billion. Our republic attracts foreign investors not only with oil and gas. Kazakhstan has more than 1200 types of mineral raw materials, the richest deposits of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, uranium, phosphorus, gold, and many others that are well known all over the world. In fact there are a lot of foreign investors who are willing to invest their money into an agrarian industrial sector, especially in the sphere of processing products.

Kazakhstan is a large agrarian state. The potential of the country in exporting grain exceeds three million tonnes, but in the near future it is supposed to reach the level of 10 million tonnes. What is more, Kazakhstan is one of a few states in the region and among the CIS countries, that provides itself with food. The possibilities of further development of this sector of the economy are great because the main sale markets for food industry are located along the borders of the Kazakhstani borders.

Thus, one of the main tasks of day is to create a favorable investment climate, because it leaves much to be desired. The development of the economy is hampered because of the low level of the development of the republic’s infrastructure.

That’s why great changes are taking place in the republic today: telecommunications are being modernized, sophisticated space communications are being introduced, opti-fibre lines are being laid down. Positive results have been achieved in the transport sphere. The TransAsian Railway line has almost been completed that will open an access for Kazakhstan to the sea ports of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The railway station "Friendship" on the borderline with China is being reconstructed which will increase the carrying capacity of the railways in the eastern and southern-east directions. Regular airlines with the countries of Europe (Germany, Holland, Austria, Hungary) and Asia (China and Turkey) have been opened. Some other new lines are planned to open.

More or less favorable conditions have been created for foreign investors: a number of normative and legislative acts and organizational measures for the improvement of foreign economic activities have been adopted.

And the time is not far off, when Kazakhstan may and must become some kind of connecting link between the West and the East for consolidating economic, political and other relations common to mankind.

The world practice shows that under the conditions of the economic crisis it is necessary to enhance the responsibility and regulationary functions of the state and government in the investment sphere.

The system of state guarantees will promote the realization of huge projects. But for granting such guarantees it is necessary to meet the two main requirements: to possess complete information about the alternative projects and mortgage funds that will provide against these guarantees. But at present it is very difficult to get such kind of information because the then existing highly organized systems of state planning bodies, research centres, and others have been destroyed and the new ones have not been established yet. That’s why it is very important now to create the regional information centres and to bring them in line with the international information centres.

Such centres are to carry out the general economic monitoring in the region but not only to appraise the investment projects.

So, the functional (real) independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan depends on the reasonable and effective management of the world economic relations, which will enable the republic to take the worthy place in the world economy.