Multiethnic unity promoting indigenous Kazakh culture

(MENAFN- Arab News) Kazakhstan provides an inspiring example of what countries can achieve when governments encourage tolerance respect dialogue and cooperation among different cultures civilizations and peoples. when kazakhstan gained its independence in 1991 the fledgling state faced a number of serious challenges as a result of nearly 70 years of soviet domination. many people thought that an independent kazakhstan would not be sustainable. the large number of non-kazakh speaking slavs who had come to northern and eastern kazakhstan as part of soviet industrialization policies was potentially the most serious and divisive soviet legacy. these people in many cases knew neither the culture customs or traditions of kazakhstan nor the kazakh language. the issue required sensitive handling since it could have challenged the viability and integrity of the newly independent kazakhstan

Indeed shortly before independence at the time of the last soviet census in 1989 ethnic kazakhs constituted only 39.7 percent of the population with russians and other slavs comprising around 45 percent of the population. other nationalities living in kazakhstan at that time included armenians germans koreans poles tatars turks and uzbeks among other peoples. as a result state-makers in the newly independent kazakhstan faced the challenge of establishing a strong viable state for the indigenous ethnic kazakh population while defining the civic rights of all the peoples of kazakhstan.

This was no easy task. in fact in light of ethnic tension and even conflicts in many republics of the former soviet union-some of which rumble on sporadically to this day-the 'ethnic question' has perhaps been the most longstanding challenge facing kazakhstan in the era of independence. the country has been helped by the fact that kazakhstan throughout its history has been a meeting point of cultures religions and civilizations. the great silk road which slices through the south of modern-day kazakhstan served as a channel for cultural spiritual and scientific exchange for centuries.

The soviet authorities also exiled large numbers of non-kazakh peoples such as germans and koreans to kazakhstan adding to the multiethnic character of the country. while the institutional challenges of consolidating kazakhstan's independence remained traditional kazakh tolerance toward other peoples and their diverse cultural traditions and beliefs was already part of the fabric of the new state that aimed to develop mutual understanding and respect among all its peoples. an important basis for promoting interethnic harmony was the establishment of the assembly of people of kazakhstan which came into being on march 1 1995 on the initiative of president nazarbayev. this body gives all ethnic groups a voice within the state's political system including parliament and ensures the protection of rights and freedoms of citizens regardless of their nationality. at local level regional assemblies of the people have been established in all regions of the country as well as in the main cities of astana and almaty.

The example of the pavlodar regional assembly is particularly instructive given the region's high number of russian-speaking soviet-era migrants. situated in northeast kazakhstan and bordering the russian federation the pavlodar regional assembly was one of the first to be created. diaspora populations from many nationalities are represented in the assembly including azeris armenians belarusians chechen-ingush germans greeks jews koreans kyrgyz poles and ukrainians among others.

All the national groups work under the aegis of national-cultural centers housed in a purpose-built building in the center of pavlodar. national sessions concerts festivals and presentations take place on a regular basis in the house and the various nationalities are encouraged to speak their native languages.

As dzhafar makhmutov the leader of the azeri society 'vatan' explains: 'by a quirk of fate our family ended up in kazakhstan. i strongly appreciate the fact that i am able to speak in my own mother tongue teach it to the young generation and develop my own national culture."

Significantly since the fall of communism in 1991 the people of kazakhstan have also begun to express and celebrate their ethnic identity through their respective faiths. hundreds of mosques churches synagogues and other religious structures have been built. kazakhstan has become a meeting place for the leaders of world religions.

Created in 2003 by president nazarbayev the congress of world and traditional religions an international initiative designed to strengthen understanding between world cultures and religious and ethnic groups is further evidence of kazakhstan's commitment to religious freedom and tolerance. the congress has taken place four times on each occasion in astana confirming its position as a significant platform for dialogue and understanding between the world's religions.

Since independence kazakhstan has succeeded in creating a framework for the peoples of the country to live together in peace and prosperity. within this multiethnic secular state the indigenous culture of the kazakhs has grown and prospered. today kazakhs comprise just over 60 percent of the population of kazakhstan. but importantly all of the country's citizens are recognized as kazakhstanis.