Astana, Kazakhstan, Feb.7
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev put forward the initiative on renaming the country 20 years ago, honorable journalist of Kazakhstan, veteran of Kazakh journalism, holder of 'Badge of Honor' order, Tuleubek Konyr told Trend on Feb.7.
"Twenty years ago President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed to rename Kazakh SSR to Kazakh Republic in the republic's Supreme Council. The Supreme Council didn't accept this proposal," Tuleubek Konyr said.
Konyr believes that now the historical and demographic situation has changed radically.
"Kazakhstan is an independent country. Besides, the number of the constituent people (the titular nation) reached 11 million people, or about 70 percent of the whole population. There is every reason to be called Kazah eli (Kazakhs country in Kazakh language)," Konyr said.
Konyr recalled that Kazakhstan has established a number of national symbols in architecture: 'Mengilik El' gates, 'Baiterek', and'Han Shatyry'.
"And I support the president's initiative on renaming Kazakhstan to 'Kazakh eli'," the veteran of journalism said.
Konyr also expressed hope that the parliament and the country's nation will support this idea.
Earlier, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed his opinion with regard to the country's official name.
"There is 'stan' in the end of the name of our country as in other Central Asian countries.
At the same time, the foreigners are showing interest in Mongolia with a two million population. But there is no 'stan' in the end of this name. We must consider such a name as "Kazakh eli". But we must discuss this with the Kazakh people," the president said at the Intellectual School in Atyrau.
At the end of his address, the president stressed that the country will achieve all goals by preserving unity and tolerance.
"Our advantage is in our variety of multi-ethnic people," President Nazarbayev said.
Translated by L.Z.
Edited by C.N.