ASTANA – Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the first joint session of the Mazhilis and the Senate of the Parliament of the VI convocation March 25.
“Kazakhstan meets the 25th anniversary of independence with the newly elected parliament. Three parties and nine members of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) won the recent elections. I congratulate all of us with the victory in the elections held in conditions of fair competition, as well as the new deputies with the status of parliamentarians,” he said.
Nazarbayev recalled that the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence coincided with a difficult period of the global crisis. The new composition of the parliament starts its work in particularly difficult circumstances. There is a multi-dimensional and multi-level crisis across the world. Unpredictable world trade and financial markets negatively affect the economy of Kazakhstan. Various social problems grow even in relatively prosperous countries, he noted.
Nazarbayev also announced important tasks for the parliament.
“Firstly, it is necessary to adopt a unified tax and customs code, which will ensure transparency in all financial procedures. Secondly, the adoption of the code ‘On Subsoil and Subsoil Use’ will accumulate all the rules governing relations in this sphere into a single legislative act. Thirdly, changes into the current legislation on electric power industry are needed. Fourth, in the framework of the second phase of the reforms in the antitrust sphere, the changes and additions to the legislation on competition are required. Fifth, legislation on the subject of the further transfer of government functions into a competitive environment should be modernised,” Nazarbayev said.
In addition, the President expressed confidence that the deputies of the Mazhilis will continue the tradition of constructive cooperation in the legislative process with the Senate of the Parliament.
“An important task is to develop a perspective plan of legislative work for the entire period of the new Mazhilis office. I want to emphasise the general political role and responsibility of both chambers of the parliament in the current conditions. It is necessary to strengthen inter-party cooperation of parliamentarians and achieve coordinated work of all the factions and deputy groups. An important task is to take an active part in the international inter-parliamentary community. I am sure that the new deputies will quickly join the work, whereas the former members will ensure the continuity and fast transition to the new approach,” Nazarbayev said.