You have to live in the present

Living in the Present

On August 28, 2026, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the opening of the first session of the Kurultai of the first convocation.

At the beginning of his speech, Tokayev congratulated those present on this event, which, he said, marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of the country's political system. The head of Kazakhstan emphasized that the Kurultai is called upon to radically modernize the system of state power and give a powerful impetus to the work of the entire state apparatus.

Key points of Tokayev's speech:

* **Priority tasks of the new Kurultai.** These include harmonizing legislation with the new Constitution, ensuring high-quality legislative work, and adopting laws on key issues such as artificial intelligence, education, and social support.

* **Formation of the new Government.** Tokayev announced that after the Kurultai structure is formed, he will submit candidates for vice president and prime minister to the deputies for consideration.

* **Introduction of the new position of Deputy Chairman of the Security Council.**

* **Nomination of Aibek Dadebay for the position of Speaker of the Kurultai.**

* **A crisis of trust between world powers.** The President noted that the UN Security Council has effectively ceased to fulfill its key mission of maintaining peace and security.

* **The emergence of a new world order.** Tokayev emphasized that a new world order is emerging, possessing mutually exclusive characteristics: dangerous, vicious, and hopeless, on the one hand, and progressive, technologically advanced, promising, and fateful, on the other.

Furthermore, the President of Kazakhstan made a number of significant statements:

"We must not poison the people's memory with dubious facts and distorted information. Such actions weaken faith in the past and hope for the future. Our history and literature are not a chronicle of endless sacrifices, suffering, and tragedies. Of course, we will never consign to oblivion the tragic and turning points of our history. "However, the suffering our people have endured cannot be the foundation of our national identity," he said.

The President emphasized that a nation's history consists not only of defeats and failures; Kazakh history has had its share of triumphant victories and achievements.

"Therefore, world history, including the history of individual peoples and the history of our own nation, cannot be viewed and assessed superficially, simplistically, or one-dimensionally. We must approach our history not with the burden of past grievances, but with a clear understanding of the highest interests of our nation. This is especially necessary for the younger generation. I am confident that our conscious and progressive compatriots are well aware of this."

Tokayev believes that today Kazakhstan is demonstrating truly innovative standards and approaches to reforming all spheres of public life. This represents a thoughtful, large-scale modernization not only of state institutions and the economy, but, far more importantly, of the civic consciousness and mentality of the nation.

"In today's world, rife with wars, crises, and mutual mistrust, such a systemic societal transformation is unique and has no comparable example in any region. It can be confidently stated: Kazakhstan has firmly embarked on the path of reform and has become a territory of real change," the head of state noted.

To maintain the rapid pace of transformation and consolidate the results achieved, Kazakhstanis must change their approaches and views on key aspects of the nation's historical development.

"Our society must rely on reality rather than myths, place hope in progress, develop science rather than revel in archaism, value practicality rather than rhetoric, defend the truth and resist falsehood. These crucial principles must become an integral part of the ideology of future generations. Our united people have endured all historical trials with dignity, and now can and must direct their powerful energy toward finding new horizons for development. "Water does not flow under a lying stone; creation and hard work are what will lead us to success," he concluded.

Tokayev noted that the current global situation is extremely complex and unpredictable.

"It is worth noting that, in a period of global turbulence and a lack of mutual trust, Kazakhstan maintains its high international standing. It is fundamentally important that our country's position is heeded by leading global powers that exert significant influence on international politics. We will continue to adhere to our established course of protecting national interests by promoting the values of peace, friendship, and mutually beneficial partnership," the president said.

The Kazakh leader believes that these successes have been made possible solely by the cohesion of the nation and the unity of its citizens in achieving common goals.

"Our country's main strength, its strategic advantage, lies in the unwavering unity and creative spirit of its people. As a progressive state, we must strive to achieve lofty goals. We must confidently move forward, without being distracted by petty squabbles and social apathy.

We have a clear plan of action, and we know exactly where we're headed. Most importantly, we must believe in ourselves and work hard. We will continue to pay close attention to shaping national identity. Above all, this means systematically recognizing our fundamental historical and cultural heritage and reviving it in the public consciousness. History is a guiding star, a priceless treasure for the people. Distorting historical facts for the sake of false glory and greatness is a road to nowhere. How can we provide a worthy education for our youth if we ourselves are mired in past grievances and unspoken emotions? Tokayev emphasized that the country's history is a unique chronicle, a source of pride for current and future generations.

"After all, the Kazakhs are a people who have endured many trials and tribulations, yet who have consistently demonstrated resilience and heroism." A mature nation with a profound worldview is capable of learning from the past, honoring its history, and confidently moving forward. This principle is more relevant than ever now, as the country enters a new historical period of growth.

As a creative nation, we must draw a clear line between truth and fiction, truth and lies, and forever rid ourselves of destructive ills.

We must avoid the "five enemies" mentioned by the great Abai, especially slander, rhetoric, and bragging. First and foremost, we must arm ourselves with knowledge, rely on science, and work tirelessly; otherwise, we risk being left behind by global progress, and we absolutely cannot allow that. The annals of our country are written by people who, through all adversity and trials, walked with their heads held high, remaining steadfast in their service to the interests of the Motherland. It was precisely such individuals who moved our country forward," the president asserted.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev believes that to build a prosperous state, Kazakhstanis must emulate the lives and moral principles of such outstanding sons of their nation.

"Sitting idly and perplexedly asking, 'How can this be achieved?' is completely uncharacteristic of our heroic people. A person with a strong moral spirit and willpower is well aware of their duty to their loved ones and the Fatherland, devoting all their efforts to the good of the country. It is such a person who achieves true success in life and deserves the sincere respect of society. This is the true meaning of patriotism," the president stated.