Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Nursultan Nazarbayev, the newly re-elected president of Kazakhstan swore an oath before his people before officially stepping in his office as new head of state on April 29.

“In accordance with Article 42 of the Constitution of Kazakhstan, the president takes office after swearing an oath,” Igor Rogov, the chairman of the Constitutional Council said at the ceremony, Novosti-Kazakhstan news agency said.

Nazarbayev, the absolute winner of the presidential elections - held on April 26 - announced the priorities of his next term as president.

He noted at the inauguration ceremony in Astana that Kazakhstan will intensify its efforts for the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts, RIA Novosti reported.

"Kazakhstan's diplomacy will intensify its efforts for a peaceful settlement of acute regional conflicts in the Islamic World and the post-Soviet space," he emphasized.

Nazarbayev noted that the successful implementation of the country’s development plan requires a favorable international environment. As a leader in Central Asia, Kazakhstan will support the overall security and economic development of the region, he pledged.

"We will continue to work with our strategic partners such as Russia, China, the US, the EU, and Islamic countries. We will work actively with international organizations," Nazarbayev said.

He also discussed five points he intends to immediately address in the country:

“We need to be strengthened within the country in order to cope with external threats. Then we will not be afraid of external threats. I see five large-scale domestic tasks before the country,” Nazarbayev said.

He went on to say that to begin with it is necessary for the country to increase its middle class, as a support base to the country’s stability. “Develop a business, save it and help the country become a state, prevailing middle-income residents.”

Nazarbayev also noted on the need to develop a single internal market and balanced development of all regions.

He also defined a fight plan against corruption as one of the main priorities of his government’s work.

Elbasy noted jobs will need to be created, adding that industrial programs and business projects are being developed for this purpose.

The president furthermore highlighted his desire to move the nation toward success in this 21st century.

“All of these are the challenges of our state in the 21st century. Changes in the world have meant that our state faces a choice: to choose reform or degradation. Only the one, who is capable of self-renewal or reform, will be worthy of passing through this era of change,” Nazarbayev said.

Nazarbayev won the presidential election with 97.75 percent of votes.

Kazakhstan’s incumbent president, Nursultan Nazarbayev was nominated by the ruling Nur Otan Party, the secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist People's Party, Turgun Syzdykov was nominated from this party and self-nominated candidate - the chairman of the Trade Unions Federation, Abelgazi Kusainov - were all running for the president’s position.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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