Astana was a breakthrough project

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the transfer of the capital from Almaty to Astana. In honor of this anniversary, the Museum Library of the First President of Kazakhstan, where from 1997 to 2004, was located the residence of the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev opened a new permanent exhibition entitled "Astana - a symbol of the unity and independence of Kazakhstan."

This building is of great historical and memorial significance in the history of the country. Looking out the window of his study room the head of state saw a new city, symbolizing prosperity. Akmola was proclaimed the capital of Kazakhstan in the domed hall. In the Mazhilis hall Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed with the architects designs of buildings and monuments.

"Our team with very great excitement, with an awareness of responsibility prepared the exhibition. These museum exhibits literally passed through the hands of the President of Kazakhstan. Their feature is a kind of illustration, clear evidence of the events that occurred. In particular, on 10 December 1997, when the official capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty to Astana, "- said the deputy director of the Library of the First President of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation, Kulyaysha Aktaeva.

20th anniversary is a significant event not only for our capital city of Astana, but also throughout the country.

Remarkability of this event is diversified: first, quietly approached the new small anniversary of a successful project of Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev. 20 years is far from childhood and even, perhaps, not adolescence, continuing the comparison with the development of the human race it is youth, a fine time to flowering, growth and at the same time functioning adult body. It is a political, economic, social and geo-political body in the fullest sense of the word.

Second, it is significant that this event is evaluated not only by its contemporaries, but also young people. In fact, they are of the same age with the capital. 20 years is generation.

Third, it’s extremely significant that the exhibition opens in the days of active discussion of the Message of President of Kazakhstan to the people as the foundations of the political reform of the state apparatus.

"Guys do not remember the first years of formation, the decade; they know what is and what is happening now. And they want to know how it had recently begun, some 20 years. I am confident that the exhibition will interest young people, as a nation, the people who do not know their history can hardly count on success" - Majilisman Pavel Kazantsev said who in 1995-1997 as Deputy Akim worked on the issues of transferring the capital.

The main part which today with pride and excitement represents a new exhibit is located in the "Golden Hall".

Historical place: it was here in 1998, his project represented a winner of international open tender for the sketch-idea of the building Astana architect Kisho Kurokawa, and in the same room a master plan for development of the city was adopted.

The exhibition "Astana - a symbol of the unity and independence of Kazakhstan" was the result of the work of the creative team of the library. It was prepared more than six months since studied the history of the hall. What events took place here, and literally on particles selected from the collection of library materials required. The sketch-idea was made in order to avoid losing the interior of this room, but at the same time satisfy the largest possible amount of material.

A new exhibition is divided into four thematic sections: "The transfer of the capital of Kazakhstan from Almaty to Akmola - an important part of system reforms on modernization of Kazakhstan", "Nursultan Nazarbayev's role in the establishment and development of Astana", "Socio-economic development of Astana" and "International image of the capital Kazakhstan". Here you can see historical photographs, working notebooks of the head of state with the records on the transfer of the capital, greeting addresses by heads of foreign states on the occasion of the presentation of the new capital of Kazakhstan, souvenir models of sights of Astana, and even a gift from the Association of builders of Kazakhstan - trowel of Damascus steel, brass and oak engraved with "Nursultan Nazarbayev - the main developer of Kazakhstan."

Tuleutay Suleimenov, at the time was the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he says that, together with the President circling on helicopter Akmola region, in one of the areas Nazarbayev asked him to go away with him.

"The two sat down on the rocks. Around a great steppe, Nursultan Nazarbayev enjoyed the views, clean air. And he said - "Tuleutay, how do you think maybe we will move the capital here?" For me it was a surprise, because only recently was proclaimed the independence of the republic. But 20 years later, we are sure, the strategic initiative of the First President of Kazakhstan to move the capital from Almaty to Akmola became fatal in the recent history of the country. During this time was done a tremendous amount of work: the capital became a major political, economic, cultural and scientific center of the republic. Astana became the pride of new Kazakhstan, a symbol of the approval of the national idea and the unification of the country, a symbol of the success of the state and a political will of the First President", - said Tuleutay Skakovich.

The exhibition impresses with its multi-layered: here are video chronicles and the press conference transcript. Famous architectural sketches of objects of Astana, painted by Nursultan Nazarbayev, transferred to glass windows.

Two halls occupied the artistic part of the exhibition: in one - a picture of venerable artists as Saparbay Osmonaliyev, Amanat Nazarkul, Botagoz Akanayeva-Murzaliyeva, inspired by Astana. In another hall there are children's drawings, the works of students from the art studio «Baigaliev» and their teacher Talgat Baygaliev.

"Very often I ask kids to draw views of Astana, the street on which they live, buildings under construction. Each one should know their history. Many people, unfortunately, do not know, and together we study the history of the capital. The theme "Young capital - Astana" will be eternal, it will be interested not only in Kazakhstan but also in foreign countries", - said a cultural worker, a member of the Union of Artists of Kazakhstan Talgat Baigaliev.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition were those who in the formation and construction of the city took and continue to take part, many citizens of Kazakhstan, as well as those who witnessed all the stages of the capital transfer.

The capital of Kazakhstan took its place on the political map of the world. The international significance of Astana increased. Now Astana is called a meeting place for the leaders of world and traditional religions, the place of generation initiatives for political cooperation in the solution of global problems facing humanity, polygon of architectural and urban innovations of the XXI century. Astana became a major geopolitical project of modernity, transforming notions of Kazakhstan.

We note that visiting the museum display of the Library of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is free of charge.

By Makhabbat BOLSHINA

Translated by Raushan MAKHMETZHANOVA

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