Those present thanked the Head of State for the chance to visit Kazakhstan and participate in celebrating the Constitution Day, and noted that the international conference that brought together a large number of foreign experts allowed sharing of knowledge on forming the rule of law.
- We highly appreciate cooperation and the possibility of mutual exchange of experience in the matter of constitutional construction and are grateful for valuable advice and recommendations, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev has spoken about the history of developing constitutionalism in Kazakhstan since independence.
- In the spring of 1995, together with a group of legal scholars, we were discussing which constitution we should adopt. I personally reviewed the constitutions of 20 countries in Europe, America, and Asia in search of provisions that would be suitable for our state. We could not simply adopt in a pure form a constitution of another country. Thus, we came to the Constitution adopted in August 1995 in a national referendum, which was supported by the overwhelming majority of citizens. It became the Basic Law, according to which we live today, build our state, and strengthen our independence. The Constitution is constantly reformed and improved in accordance with the requirements of the times. For example, at the beginning of last year I initiated a constitutional reform on redistributing a number of presidential powers between the Parliament and the Government, with the expansion of independence and responsibility of the latter, the Head of State said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that Kazakhstan is purposefully pursuing a policy to establish the rule of law while ensuring the supreme legal force of the Basic Law, and stressed that the country's successes in the international arena are evidence of its high authority and confirmation of the effectiveness of the principles of peaceful foreign policy laid down in the Constitution.
- Kazakhstan’s achievements are unconditional and recognized by the world community. For a quarter of a century, we have increased the economy by 22 times, improved the lives of Kazakhstanis, created a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state in which people can freely send their religious rites, speak their native language and preserve their culture. This is confirmed by the VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held in Astana this year, the President of Kazakhstan stated.
In turn, international experts expressed their gratitude to Nursultan Nazarbayev for the invitation and noted that the Constitution Day celebration demonstrates the high importance of the country’s most important document, which represents a solid basis for regulating relations between different institutions and acting guarantor of protecting rights and freedoms.
- Celebrating the Constitution Day, indeed, is a civilized educational activity aimed at creating and disseminating constitutional values among citizens and, in particular, among young people. It also shows the aspiration of society and the ideal way for public harmony, tranquillity and stability, said Mourad Medelci, President of the Constitutional Council of Algeria.
In conclusion, the Head of State pointed out that in providing constitutional legality the special role belongs to the bodies of constitutional justice, with supreme mission to observe the rule of law.
Kairat Mami, Chairman of the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan, Farhad Abdullayev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Azerbaijan, Mourad Medelci, President of the Constitutional Council of Algeria, Hrayr Tovmasyan, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, Boris Velchev, Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria, Ineta Ziemele, President of the Constitutional Court of Latvia, Schnutz Rudolf Durr, Secretary General, World Conference on Constitutional Justice, Zholymbet Baishev,Chairperson Eurasian Economic Union Court, and A. Rakishev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration.
