In an interview with the newspaper Izvestia, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized the unifying role of the Russian language within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and its role in fostering and maintaining friendly relations among member countries.
"I believe that it's undeniable today that the Russian language, recognized as one of the official languages of the UN and having international language status, plays a significant role in consolidating friendly relations among our nations. It serves as a powerful tool for advancing regional cooperation, fostering collaboration, and building trust," he stated.
"When proposing the idea of establishing an International Organization for the Russian Language, I was inspired, in part, by global precedents," - Tokayev expressed. - "Relevant international bodies have been formed to promote languages such as French, German, Spanish, and others." The Kazakh leader emphasized that the concept of creating an international organization for the Russian language is not intended to compete with the language policies of CIS countries, including Kazakhstan. Importantly, this organization "will be open to membership by countries outside the CIS."
The president of Kazakhstan also highlighted that more than 60,000 Kazakhstani students are currently enrolled in Russian universities, and their choice is influenced by the lack of a language barrier. Furthermore, branches of Russian universities are being established in Kazakhstan. This trend extends to secondary education as well. "Given the historical and cultural commonalities of our people, there is a mutual interest in expanding cooperation in secondary education," - he stated. - "Negotiations are underway to establish joint Kazakh-Russian general education institutions in the southern regions of Kazakhstan."
Tokayev conducted this interview in anticipation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming official visit to Kazakhstan. According to the Kremlin press service, this visit is scheduled for November 9. During this visit, the two presidents will engage in discussions on key aspects of their bilateral strategic partnership and alliance, cooperation prospects within Eurasian integration associations, as well as contemporary regional and international matters. Additionally, Putin and Tokayev will participate in the plenary session of the 19th Forum of Interregional Cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan via videoconference, which will be hosted in Kostanai.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS