Kazakh democratic forces coalition backs initiative to rename Astana
ASTANA. Nov 24 (Interfax) - The Kazakhstan-2050 Nationwide Coalition of Democratic Forces, which brings together Kazakh political parties and public organizations, has supported an initiative to perpetuate the name of Kazakhstan's First President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the name of the country's capital.
"We support the initiative to build the Tauelsiz Kazakhstan monument, mark the First President's outstanding contribution to the constitution of the country and perpetuate the name of Yelbasy [Leader of the Nation] in the name of the capital," the coalition said in a message to Kazakh citizens adopted at the coalition's meeting on Wednesday.
Excerpts from the address were cited in a report, which was published on the Nur Otan Party's website.
"We, members of the Nationwide Coalition of Democratic Forces Kazakhstan-2050, call on one and all to safeguard our sacred independence and support these initiatives for the benefit of the coming generations of the Kazakh people," it said.
At a joint session on Wednesday, members of both houses of Kazakhstan's parliament adopted a declaration on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the country's independence. In this document, among other steps, they suggested marking the contribution made by First Kazakh President and Leader of the Nation Nazarbayev to the country's development in the constitution and perpetuating his name in the name of the capital and the names of other major facilities of the country.
