(Continued from # 36(354))
Sultankhan Aqquly-Uly: Mr. President. What do you think about Islamic fundamentalism and its possible influence to Central Asia in general, and to Kazakhstan in particular? You know about the bombings in Tashkent earlier this year....
Nursultan Nazarbayev: I always say the only thing when answering that question. This matter has to be divided into two parts. What exactly is fundamentalism? The word�s root is fundament, or basis. I would not say that fundamentalism is an issue which regards to Islam only, I would not say that other religions do not have fundamentals or fundamentalism... Christianity, fro example is more fundamental that Islam... The orthodox Christianity is also a fundamental religion... That is why, in general, I am against the idea to call Islam the only fundamental religion. But, there are extremist groups. Islam, the Holy Koran is against any political fights. On the contrary, Mohammed, the Prophet, said through Koran, that any person must choose his faith, his religion voluntarily, without any sort of pressure... Of course, the explanations about this or that religion must take place... Our nation has been not a good follower of a religion, you know about that... Years of Soviet system and other historic circumstances made us to stay far from the religion. In the last 7 years, in order to let our people to get back to their roots, the roots of purity and Iman (Faith and obedience in Islam), I returned 4 thousand mosques, closed during the Soviets, to the Muslims of our country. And you know that hundreds of new mosques are being raised all over Kazakhstan currently. In future, I think , a new Central Cathedral Mosque must be erected in Astana too... Because this is not just our religion, this is our culture. I, myself, as all other compatriots, have been brought up in the atheistic way, but since my childhood, my parents, and probably your parents did the same to you too, kept telling me that we were Muslims, in spite of the fact that all of us were pioneers and Komsomol members... Is that right? ... That is why I am sure it is very good to call [people to be righteous, to be faithful and to have Iman. That is why we have to divide this matter into two parts... We are Sunni Muslims, and have to follow this path... As for extremist groups, attacking mobs or other movements having a goal to struggle against the government, We are against them. It is shown in our Constitution... Of course, the situation in Tajikistan , especially that in Uzbekistan is very important issue for us. We have very good relation with Iran too. We keep saying to them that Kazakhstan is ready for economic and trade cooperation. But we never support terrorism, and we are very strong in this position...
Sultankhan Aqquly-Uly Mr. President, one more question. Recently Kazakh Foreign Minister Qasymzhomart Toqayev met with top officials of Taleban movement in Afghanistan. That was the first contact of such kind. Is it an attempt to strengthen Kazakhstan�s security in its South without Russia, is it a first step towards Russia�s exclusion from any meddling into the Central Asian affairs?
N. Nazarbayev: Afghanistan is our southern neighbor. We need peace in Afghanistan. If there is peace in Afghanistan, we shall be able to transport our oil to India through the shortest route. That is why we need peace there and in Tajikistan. We also are interested in peace between Pakistan and India. Geographically we all are neighbors, we have common trade interests. That is why our Foreign Minister met with representatives of both Taleban and opposition leaders in Afghanistan. Meeting does not mean to support one of the sides, meeting means to learn the direction and political viewpoints... We have to know what sort of state the Taleban is going to create, what sort of assistance Kazakhstan might give them in that matter... That is why it was necessary for Minister Toqayev to meet with them...
As for the �exclusion of Russia�, this is, I would say, very provocative question. Not Kazakhstan, but such countries as the United States or European states are not able to exclude Russia from anything. Russia is a big and strong country. Our destiny, our nature is so..., geography is so... Russia is a power with population of 250 million people and the biggest territory in the world. This is a great country.. If Russia is able to overcome all the economic and other hardships, if it manages to establish a real democratic society with market economy and freedoms, for us in Kazakhstan this will be a real advantage. Russia has the biggest mineral resources... To live with such a great neighbor in peace is very important for us. The main trade partner of us is Russia and our further cultural development without Russia is not possible... In the last several hundreds years we have got used to this nation... The main advantage for us to cooperate with Russia is our knowledge of their language, knowledge of their policy, their behavior and other peculiarities... That is why this is very profitable for us, that is why, I would say, that Kazakhstan will never allow anyone to exclude it from anything, and Kazakhstan will never try to exclude any state from anything...
Bakhytzhamal Bekturganova, President of the Association of Sociologists and Politologists
Almaty
1-10 of May
700 persons were questioned
The majority of the population of the southern capital is unable to evaluate the effectiveness of �the saving economy�. Most of the population has zero saving possibilities.
Do you have any private savings?
(% in the column)
| Total | Men | Women | |
| Yes | 10.6 | 11.8 | 9.4 |
| No | 85.1 | 83.7 | 86.4 |
| It�s difficult to answer | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
The poll results indicate that such an internal channel to improve of the economy as the people�s private investment capital is closed, and in the current situation it is impossible to optimize it.
Reform in such a society may lead to �a boomerang effect�. In particular, the reactivation of authoritarian trends, which demand forceful administration methods, is being clearly observed in the society. Tomorrow the resistant energy of the low strata may change its quiet course.
Did you take part in the following events in the last year?
(% in the line)
| Took part | Would take part | Will never take part | |
| Collection of signatures, signing of appeals | 8.5 | 20.6 | 70.8 |
| Participation in meetings, protest demonstrations | 3.9 | 17.2 | 78.9 |
| Participation in strikes | 0.0 | 15.8 | 84.2 |
| Court cases against the illegal activities of officials and other persons | 8.2 | 31.9 | 60 |
| Letters to governmental organizations | 5.4 | 20.2 | 74.4 |
| Appeals through mass media (TV, radio, press) | 4.3 | 34.6 | 61.2 |
The total picture of the answers is rather characterized by a citizens� protest of non-participation, than active participation in this process. The absence of definite regulations and coordination mechanisms of political decisions of the authorities alienates the majority of the population and pushes it into so-called �internal migration�.
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