Premier states he is ready to resign

RK premier Kassymzhomart Tokaev suggested the president dismissed: vice-premier Jandosov, minister of labor and public social protection Baymenov, Pavlodar oblast akim Zhakiyanov, vice-minister of defense Ertlesova. Premier stated that in his plea to the nation passed to Kz-today by the government information department.

Tokaev notes he'd decide himself upon the fate of other Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan participants.

"I turn to the head of state insisting to dismiss unprofessionals and conspirators from his set. It's time to serve the nation, not strange masters. It's time to do a real thing, not political shows.

Tokaev notes "in case the president does not accept my proposal, I myself will have to resign.

The cabinet leader stresses "the plea is no spontaneous emotion. It has been well thought over. As an international expert, who knows experience and practice of state build-up in other countries, I stress the chaos and political disorder would bring our nation no good".

"The existing government has been in force for over two years now. We took the economy under the crisis. Nevertheless, within two years the economy grew by about 23%. Almost all social payments debts were removed, twice we raised pension levels and we proposed to further increase them next year. The government offered to raise the doctors' and teachers' salaries, as well as those of all budget employees. The public income keeps on growing. For the first time in our history the processing industry surpasses the producing one. The nation strengthens its defense; Kazakhstan possesses the financial reserves it had never had before.

The president constantly supported us. The results could not be achieved unless there was a stability and ethnic accord.

However, there are people who are looking to unsettle the society. For this they use everything handy, including Internet terror. Backed by the funds of our country's adversaries they cascade smut and filth upon the nation's officials, including the president.

Today I have to speak out to the people of Kazakhstan, the president and the parliament, as I believe a mighty threat to our accomplishments emerged on behalf of the people, who act both inside and outside the country. These forces whilst pretending to be concerned about the democracy, in fact are prepared to do whatever it takes to crook our people. In particular they strive to make an access to Kazakhstan oil market easy for those who aspire to get there.

Some of our business elite and even state officials, having become wealthy during 10 years of our independence, made up their mind to declare an information war on their own nation by insulting and blackmailing the government and the parliament.

I believe this is a political pressure upon the government, legislative power and, possibly, upon the president - these individuals are keen on getting rid of the people inconvenient to them, on preventing our law enforcement to check and reveal the facts of the bylaws violations. These people strive for property redistribution. They want to frenziedly escalate their wealth. I believe a further involvement of people in a political show would result in chaos and the country's disorder".

The head of state suggested: "Let us look who is talking about a Kazakhstan democracy deactivation and a necessity to decentralize the state power. These people are vice-premier Uraz Jandosov, Pavlodar oblast akim Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, former KEGOC president and cabinet member Muhtar Ablyazov.

In this aspect I'd like to stress, that yet on October 24th the president decreed to set up a state committee for decentralization and inter budgetary relations. Uraz Jandosov heads the committee. His deputy is deputy akim of Pavlodar oblast. The state committee includes the minister of labor and public social protection Alihan Baimenov, first vice-minister of finance Kairat Kilimbetov, vice-minister of defense Jannat Ertlesova. Until today the state committee has not held a single session, even an initial one. The operation of this important state body, which is to produce important decisions on significant issues of state policy has been actually frozen. Meanwhile the decentralization problem is ripe, which I mentioned when recently visiting the parliament. Who prevents Jandosov from working on reforms? Moreover, it's his direct duty", the premier states.

As for Pavlodar oblast, inspite of its huge economic potential, the oblast financial indices have been decreasing within the last two years. Both the president and MPs often spoke about Zhakiyanov's unprofessionalism and unlawfulness. "As a government head a year ago I proposed the president dismissed Zhakiyanov. At the time the president did not accept my proposal, and gave yet another chance to the akim", the premier states.

As for Ablyazov's performance as the minister of energy, industry and trade, its results are well known.

"I'd like to remind to Kazakhstan democracy story-tellers, that late in 1998 the head of state spoke about the program to decentralize our society. This program is executed step by step. The president was and still is the initiator and backer of economics liberalization and democratic reforms in politics. Thanks to his efforts a solid democracy basis had been laid in Kazakhstan, which the media, the business elite, and even the state officials both use and abuse. I should remind once more, that the evergreen "fillers of the political vacuum" became popular and very wealthy thanks to president Nazarbayev's policy", Tokaev stresses.

"Our country and the neighboring states' experience shows, the economic achievments are possible due to a strong executive power, its constructive cooperation with the parliament. It's difficult for the government to work with the parliament, MPs often give us pains. But one has to admit our parliament is operating efficiently, and its impact on Kazakhstan's social and economic growth is huge. Within a year and a half this parliament followed the president's initiative and adopted a number of new generation laws. No one has a right to insult the parliament and call it rightless. Moreover, the parliament is capable of dismissing any government and any of its members. Who needs to attack the parliament. The ones who strive to provoke a clash between the branches of power", the plea reads.

"I'd like to remind the democracy story-tellers that the oblasts leaders elections do not make up the bulk of democracy. In a number of countries such elections do not exist. Nevertheless, these countries are democratic. Democracy is first of all meeting the population social needs, women and children rights protection, standing for the rights of all peoples and nationalities. Democracy is caring about the nation's stability, creating favorable conditions for the economic growth, including supporting small and medium businesses", the premier believes. "I'd like to remind that our middle class, our business formed thanks to the president's crucial support.

Universal elections might lead to a chaos and disappointment in the country. Other countries' experience shows that the elections turn out to be political carnivals, and a show of "money bags" keen on guiding their own into power. That's why I believe democratic reforms should be not introduced hastily. Democracy is no toy of the political "kinder-surprises", the government head stresses.

"Moreover the international tendency of economic development becomes negative. The global economy enters a depression phase. It migh influence our economy, too.

That is why I turn to the president, our Constitution guarantor, requesting him to stand for the country's order and discipline. The country needs that to stay calm.

I believe all the data our law enforcement has must be thouroughly checked, and if necessary, the measures should be taken. All facts of the officials' interference into the investigation should be made public.

Turning to the citizens, the premier notes, that after the US terror attacks, such values as democracy and security are re-shaped. The world has grown and became mature. It's time we grew up as well. The world's most democratic state unanimously passed a bill on fighting terrorism. 8 out of 10 Americans agreed to give a wider authority to the law enforcement. And our home-bred politicians propose to cut the authority and finance of our law enforcement, to make it underprivileged. All neighboring states took strict measures to oppose terrorism, they strengthen internal discipline. I dare stress the terrorists are not too far away from us. Within the last three months only the secret sevice became aware of two terror act plots against our president, but nothing was reported to the public. Probably, that is where the roots of terrorism danger misappreciation lie.

In a few weeks we'll celebrate our tenth anniversary of independence. This has been a difficult time. For the first time in our history the multiethnic people of Kazakhstan took to building its own state. There have been errors and mistakes. We met some serious problems. However one thing is clear: the Republic of Kazakhstan has emerged as a state! That is the major accomplishment of our president's policy.

The government thinks its main task is to implement this policy. We will guard the private property, provided it is legal. We will strive for economic and political reforms, provided they strengthen our nation's stability, friendship and accord between our state nationalities - a major achievement of the sovereign Kazakhstan. We will go on fighting corruption, acting rigorously in accordance with the law.

Today there should be no split in the government and between the akims. We are an integral team, we enjoy trust and authorities from the head of state and the parliament, we adhere to serve the interests of our people. Anyoune who disagree with the government policy, who wish to take part in political movements, must resign in accordance with our Constitution and the constitutional law on government.

The wise people of Kazakhstan does not need any guides. Our people will itself decide on its further destiny", Tokaev believes.