Kazakhstan: Religious tolerance model

By Colin Stevens, Brussels

The dangers of extremism and terrorism that are on the rise attract special attention to the best experiences of the societies in which the diversity of cultures and religions create synergies contributing to their stability and welfare. The Republic of Kazakhstan is one of these, demonstrating a strategic policy of tolerance and mutual respect between numerous nationalities – the unique model enshrined in a creation of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan – the consulting body to  President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the major architect of the national system of ethical and ethnical co-existence, insisting that harmony in human relations is a fundamental condition for the welfare of society as a whole.

The EU is acquainted with the intercultural model of Kazakhstan through different channels, one of them is the Centre of Peace and Accord in London, the other isd the ongoing series 'Kazakshtan: Integral Matrix of Unity and Accord'', published in main European languages, initiated by the People's Assembly, encouraging for the concept of inter-ethnic tolerance. However, on the 20th anniversary of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, special attention must be paid to its prominent rôle in national consonance. Firstly, among the post-Soviet states, Kazahstan's leadership has realized the necessity of the creation of such an establishment as a tool of rapprochmenet between diverse cultural entities.

President Narabayev as a major initiator of the Assembly has relentlessly underlined its essential and unique profile in a modern multicultural and multi-confessional society. Its successful activities were marked by both national and international recognition, in particular from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during his visit to Kazakhstan, who expressed his high esteem of the system of national coherence, naming it 'a model' to follow worldwide.

Nor did the example pass unappreciated among the religious authorities – Pope John-Paul II praised the respect between different confessionals. The prominent and active role of the Assembly inspired the major changes reflected in the Constitutional reform to enlarge the number of the deputes to the lower chamber of the Parliament to representatives from the Assembly.

Further a conceptual document defining the aims, principles and challenges of the governmental policy has been put forward - a doctrine of national unit, the concept that enhances politics to strengthen the idea of a modern and dynamic secular state.

As the result of these institutional changes and practical steps towards development of tolerance, Kazakhstan is proud to report stability based on mutual respect of different confessionals, avoiding any open confrontation, being involved in continuous communication and resolving potential problems before they grow. The potential conflicts are approached not only politically but through science – the Centre of Humanitarian Research, with the support of the OSCE.

The range of activities to enhance societal harmony is developed via contacts of the cultural centres with their historical motherlands : Azeri, Armenian, Greek, Doug, Jewish, Kharachaevo-Balkar, Korean, German, Polish, Tatar, Turkish, Turk and Ukrainian. Close permanent contacts are established with the border regions of Russia.

Kazakhstan represents an efficient platform for cultural and religious communication, as there are more than 130 nationalities, and 3,000 religious associations representing more than 40 confessionals. During the past two decades, 22 regional national-cultural centres were created to unite 470 organizations on different levels.

Keen attention will be devoted to the system of education, cultivating mutual respect and tolerance in more than 100 national schools and 170 Sunday schools, in which children have the opportunity to study native languages. Among three schools of national Renaissance 12 research departments are developing programmess in national languages. Special attention is being paid to traditional folk and religious festivities – Nowruz, Maslenniza, Sabantui, Chrismas, each of them adding a unique flavor to richness of Kazakhstan multicultural society.

This year, on 11-12 June, for the fifth time Kazakhstan will host the Congress of World Religions, under the theme of the dialogue between religious and political leaders in the name of peace and development.

Among the participants of the Congress there will be representatives of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism and international organisations. The interest this event is raising along with the challenges of radicalization, for ways and methods to prevent the involvement of people in misinterpretation of religion, leading to the degradation of value of human life and humanistic values. The synergy of political and religious authorities in this endeavour is paramount.

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