About Astana

On 10 December 1997, Akmola became the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, signed the decree of October 20. The parliament of the country approved this decision on the same day.

On the eve of this important event in the life of the State, Tuesday December 9, at 15.12 sharp, the presidential Boeing757 took off from Almaty airport, bound for Akmola in northern Kazakhstan. At 16.33 the aircraft landed in the city which in a few hours would officially become the capital of the country.

On arrival, President Nazarbayev emphasized to waiting journalists that Akmola is located in the very center of the Euro-Asia continent at the crossroads of routes from East to West, West to East, From South to North and from North to South. The President stated his belief that this city will develop rapidly and contribute to the unity, fraternity and rapprochement of the Kazakhstan's peoples and to their prosperity.

Kazakhstan ethnographers state that Akmola was founded in 1830 as a Cossack fortification. Two years later the settlement was given the name of Akmolinsk, and in 1862 acquired the status of a town.

Historians state that in the l9th century Akmola was a large commercial and economic center of the steppe while its role as a major agricultural center in the second half of this century is clear. The President therefore underlined that the “culture of this land is a major part of the national cultural heritage.”

This land was always famous for its plenty, including a wide assortment of dairy products, such as kumis, shubat and ayran. This gives added meaning to the name of the town: linguists point out that the exact translation of "ak mol" from the Kazakh language is “white plenty.”

During the Soviet period Tselinograd (the name Akmolinsk acquired in 1961st ), as capital of the virgin land, was also wealthy. Even during the most austere period of communist rule, there was always a variety of meat, sausages and dairy products available. Word spread about its light, white bread with a delicious crust and visiting journalists would always bring home a "karavay", (round loaf).

At 11 o'clock on 10 December 1997 President N. Nazarbayev in his speech to the ceremonial joint meeting of Parliament and government proclaimed Akmola to be the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The ceremony took place in the President's new Akmola residence, the finishing touches of which had only been completed at 4 a.m. that morning.

Addressing the people of the Republic with an Appeal, signed by the President himself, as well as Prime Minister N. Balgimbaev and the Senate chairman O. Baygeldi and Magilis M. Ospanov, Nursultan Nazarbayev stated that from that time on, the nation's most important decisions would be made there, in the very center of this huge country. "Here the heart of our country is beating... From here, Kazakhstan will determine its historical fate on the eve of the third millennium." ' proclaimed the President.

Moving the capital almost to the geographical center of the Euro-Asian continent not only solves this internal problem of the even ethno-geographic and economic development of the country, but also promises a number of other advantages. The cross point of the Euro-Asian continent’s diagonals is situated, approximately, in the Semipalatinsk oblast, in the Degelen mountains, only 300 km from Akmola. According analysts' evaluations, significant investment will be attracted to this promising region. Kazakhstan is determined not to lose this opportunity. President Nazarbayev considers that the geographical location of the new capital, coinciding with the Pacific Ocean Europe communications crossroads, will enable it to become a major transit point.

At present, Akmola also serves as a transport hub in the very center of the Republic. All roads leading from Siberia to Central Asia, from China to Europe meet here. Akmola airport is now under reconstruction, following the September 1997 completion of a new 3 km runway, capable of accepting all modern aircraft.

Presidential and governmental offices were re-located on the official date of the capital's transfer. To accommodate them, a seven-storey building, previously belonging to the former regional administration, was renovated. In the middle of January, after the recess, the Parliament is to resume work in the new capital. All the main ministries and departments have already set to work.

Successfully completing an operation on such a scale is a huge achievement for a country whose construction industry barely functioned during initial post-Soviet years. Having seen the future capital last summer, many people were skeptical and doubted whether the relocation ; of the capital was possible in ' 1997, or even later.

Nursultan Nazarbayev has implemented the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Akmola. He emphasizes that "it is for the first time in the dramatic history of the 20th century that Kazakhstan has independently come to a decision regarding the capital of its own country" and it is underlined that this decision resulted from "our national interests and bears a great political and moral significance."

The President did not stop at the existing difficulties, which could have postponed the terms of this strategic decision fulfillment. He believes that only future generations will be able to appreciate the scales of what is being done at present.

The capital city of Kazakhstan (Akmola) was named by President Nazarbayev in May 1998 as "ASTANA".

Above article is published in "AYNA 98" by AYNA Ltd. in Kazakhstan and taken from there. Author: Irina Bektiyarova.