Economic Relations between Kazakhstan and Russia
process of the sovereignty of Kazakhstan showed the correctness of the view
of this process as a consequence of the disintegration of the USSR and
subsequent objective course of events in the post-Soviet space. It is
important to stress, in the context of our study, the consistent efforts of
President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan aimed at developing integrative
processes in the relations between Kazakhstan and Russia and in the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
In turn, the declaration of sovereignty was only the beginning of a
complex process of real sovereignty for the post-Soviet countries. Using
Kazakhstan as a model, we tried to analyze the serious and comprehensive
work that had to be done, and will still have to be done, to achieve a
normal, civilized entry of the Republic in the international community. The
formation of the new Kazakhstan statehood occurred against the background
of an all-round political and economic reform of society. Despite many
complicated and contradictory processes, the country's leadership
endeavored therefore to act on the basis of scientifically well-founded
programs and concepts capable of providing the Kazakhstan is with real
reference points, the nearest tactical goals, and general strategic
objectives in this far from simple transition period.
The instituting of the post of president of the republic, the elections of
the first head of the Kazakhstan state, the constitutional reform, the
formation of a full-fledged parliamentarian system in the country were the
landmarks of the development of Kazakhstan as a sovereign independent
state.
The parliamentary system developed in Kazakhstan as a significant part
of a general political reform; it went through many political conflicts and
problem situations.
The Supreme Soviet of Kazakhstan, consisting of 360 deputies elected in
1990, was far from perfect. It should be remembered, however, that it was
this parliament that adopted the most important state acts on sovereignty,
independence, and the presidency; under this parliament, political reform
began, and new market laws were discussed and adopted. The deputies of this
parliament nurtured the idea of a professional, compact, and effective
highest legislative organ of the country working on a permanent basis.
The first professional parliament of Kazakhstan, numbering 177
deputies, was elected in March 1994. Its fate was contradictory and
dramatic. Though elected for a term of four years, this Supreme Soviet was
not quite ready for routine legislative work; besides, there were
significant violations of procedure during its election, and it was
therefore dissolved on a decision of the Constitutional Court in March
1995.
The country's political parties and movements took an active part in
the elections in December 1995 of a new parliament consisting of two
chambers, the Senate and the Mazhilis. Compact and professional, the new
parliament is, in the view of many jurists and politicians, quite capable
of fruitful legislative work and is absolutely in keeping with the
democratic principle of the division of powers.
The constitutional process in the republic also developed in a dynamic
way. This process consistently, step by step opened up new areas of the
rule of law, which corresponded to the vital periods in the development of
the republic. The path traversed from the first Constitution of sovereign
Kazakhstan, adapted in January 1993, to the Fundamental Law of the country,
adopted at a referendum in August 1995, is the path of progressive dynamic
legislative movement, of which many parameters corresponded to the
standards of developed democratic states.
Decisions on a wide range of problems in interethnic relations, the
dynamics of their development from the Forum of the Peoples of Kazakhstan
and the rise of national-cultural centers to the convocation of the
Assembly of the Peoples of Kazakhstan made it possible to conduct, in this
most difficult period in the building of the Kazakhstan state, all-round
socioeconomic and political reforms largely due to the preservation of
interethnic accord, civic peace, and goodwill of the peoples of Kazakhstan.
There is no need to emphasize the importance of Russia as a magnitude
of world order and Kazakhstan's closest neighbor. It is known all too well
what complex, and at times painful, political, economic, and social
processes took place, and are still taking place, in both states. During
the hundreds of years of cohabitation on vast adjacent territories,
Russians and Kazakhs have accumulated, despite certain differences in their
culture, traditions, and religion, a wealth of experiences in good-
neighborly relations.
The historical community, interdependence, and inter-connectedness of the
two countries' economies form the basis of Kazakhstani-Russian relations.
Of great significance is the geopolitical aspect of the relationship
between Kazakhstan and Russia as the two biggest states of the region,
which largely affects the general climate of the Eurasian subcontinent.
President Nazarbayev repeatedly stressed that Russia is our main
strategic partner, and the special relationship with Russia helps in the
solution of the most important current and long-term tasks in the
development of Kazakhstan. It may be stated today that a qualitatively new
level of relations is now taking shape in the relations between Kazakhstan
and Russia, characterized above all by the beginning of a practical
realization of the high integration potential accumulated in the public
consciousness of the two countries. It is tills area in Kazakhstan's
foreign policy, one that provides the key to the formation of a new shape
of the Kazakhstan state and is closely connected with the policy of
integration, that is an absolute priority for Kazakhstan.
Under the new historical conditions, the stable and dynamic development
of Kazakhstani-Russian relations rests on a serious legal basis. That basis
is the treaty of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance between the
Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation dated May 25, 1992, as
well as treaties and agreements signed in the course of the first official
visit of President Nazarbayev to Russia in March 1994 and his working
meeting with President Yeltsin in January 1995. As a follow-up to these
fundamentally important agreements, a whole series of intergovernmental
documents, agreements, and memorandums were signed which regulate the
relations between concrete ministries and departments.
However, the everyday practical experiences of bilateral cooperation
show that the joint efforts of the two countries must be constantly kept
up. Closer integration, especially in the economy and in the humanitarian
sphere, is necessary in the interests of democratic reform both in
Kazakhstan and in Russia. The process of further elaboration and
coordination of new agreements does not therefore cease. Recent years have
seen continuous meetings of heads of ministries and departments, government
delegations, and groups of experts to consider bilateral issues.
A considerable share of the economic potential of Kazakhstan and Russia
is employed in supporting production in the two countries. In recent years,
integration links have dynamically developed not only on the interstate
level but also between individual regions and enterprises. Besides, our
peoples are linked by centuries-old spiritual and cultural ties, as well as
by kinship and purely human relations, which must be constantly reinforced.
That is why the policy of integration is a principled line of conduct for
Kazakhstan leadership. "On the question of priorities," President
Nazarbayev commented, we must stress the vast importance of relations with
the Russian Federation. The effective factors here are the interdependence
of the economies, historical affinity, and demography. The two countries
are simply doomed to good-neighborly relations and collaboration. This
collaboration must be based on equal rights and mutual advantage, if we
have in mind the strategic goal of consolidating our common economic,
defense, humanitarian, information, and educational space.
Various aspects of economic and financial relations, problems in state
security and military-strategic cooperation, and humanitarian problems may,
as practical experience has shown, be positively resolved only if mutual
interests are taken into account, and if there is a conscious desire for
fruitful and mutually advantageous cooperation.
On March 28, 1994 a package of 23 treaties and agreements were signed,
five of them by the heads of state. These are, above all, the treaties on
further deepening of economic cooperation and integration, on military
cooperation, an agreement on the main principles of using the Baikonur
launching site, and a memorandum on the issues of citizenship and legal
status of citizens of the two countries.
These steps are in keeping with the integration efforts of our states
in the CIS framework, too. The ground has been laid for the economic and
settlement unions, and the Interstate Economic Committee - the Economic
Union's coordinating and executive committee - has begun to operate in
Moscow.
Other agreements, which significantly increase the horizons of
multilateral and bilateral cooperation, also promote the progress of the
Commonwealth toward new integration successes. Apart from the trade and
economic ones, agreements on cooperation in the sphere of defense also
belong here.
While noting the high level and rate of development of Kazakhstani-Russian
relations, it must be said that, both in previous times and nowadays,
unresolved problems naturally remain. There is a certain stage-by-stage
approach in foreign policy due to objective differences between the two
countries in their view of priorities in the phases of declaration,
establishment, and consolidation of sovereignty and independence.
The historical experiences of good-neighborly relations between
Kazakhstan and Russia and the solid relations of strategic partnership in
the present inspire confidence that the peoples of Kazakhstan and Russia
will enter the 21st century in a dignified manner.
LIST OF USED SOURSES
1.Mansurov. T. “Relationship between Kazakhstan and Russia”, 1998, /p.p178-
250/
2. Esengalin. N. “ External Economy” 1999, /p.p 12-45/
3. Peter Bophinger. “Kazakhstan 1993-2000” 2001, /p.p171-184/
4. Luts Hoffmann. “ Kazakhstan During the Transition”1998, /p.p202-235/
5. World Bank “Annual Report” 1998, /p.p 252-259/
6. World Bank “Annual Report” 2000, /p.p153-159/
7. National Agency of Statistics “Semiannually Report”2001 /p.p 159-175/
8. Hella Engerrer “Research of relationship between Kazakhstan and Russia
during the Transition” 1999 /p.p 25-50/
9. Katerina Dittmann “Tendency of Economic Development of Kazakhstan”, 1998
/p.p 89-123/
10. Todaro “Transition in CIS countries 2001 /p.p 25-31/
11. Mishkin “Relation Between Russia and CIS Countries 2001 /p.p 23-30/
12. Krugman “International Economies” 2001/2 /p.p 31-35/
13. EBRD “Annual Economic Report ” 2001, /p.p 123-159/
14. Daniel Gross “Economic Transition in Former Soviet Union” 1995 /p.p 145-
160/
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