Dialogue: Independent Kazakhstan

Phrases for your dialogues:

1. Suggest your idea:

- Why don’t we...         

- Shall we...

- Do you think we should...     + V

- Do you want to...

- Would you like to...

- Maybe the best thing would be to…

- I think the best thing might be to…

- I wonder if we should….

- How about...

- What about...                                          

- Do you feel like...               + Ving     

- What do you think of...

- Do you fancy...

- Let’s think about…

2. Prove your idea:

• … would be a good idea because ….

• One thing we should remember is that ….

• Personally, I suggest … because ….

• One advantage of … is that ….

• In my opinion, it would be best to choose … because ….

3. Agree or disagree:         

Agree:

Yes, I completely agree with you.

You are right.

That’s a good point.

That’s just what I wanted to say.

It’s a great idea!

Disagree:

I agree up to a point, but ...

Well, I agree to a certain extent, but ... 

I don’t think we should…

I’m afraid I don’t agree.

I have to disagree with you. 

I’m not sure I agree, to be honest.

Here is some information you can use:

Independent Kazakhstan

The Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state with a presidential form of government. According to the Constitution, the state proclaims itself a democratic, secular, legal and social state whose highest values are an individual, his life, rights and freedoms.

Kazakhstan gained independence on December 16, 1991 when President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed the Constitutional Law “On State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. On 2 March 1992, Kazakhstan became a member of the United Nations. This event was the beginning of the integration of Kazakhstan into the international system as a sovereign subject of the international relations. In 1991—1994, one hundred and eleven countries recognized the Republic of Kazakhstan and ninety-two of them established diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan. 

New state symbols of Kazakhstan were created to signify the independence and national spirit of the republic. On 4 June 1992, three laws came into force, i.e. the Law “On the National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” “On the National Coat of Arms of the Republic Kazakhstan” and “On the National Anthem of the Republic Kazakhstan”.

The capital is the city of Astana. The state language is Kazakh. The Russian language has the status of a language of interethnic communication. Monetary unit is tenge.

The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the head of state, its highest official, who determines the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the state and represents Kazakhstan within the country and in international relations. The President is the symbol and guarantor of the unity of the people and the state power, inviolability of the Constitution, rights and freedoms of an individual and citizen.

The Government implements the executive power of the Republic of Kazakhstan, heads the system of executive bodies and exercises supervision of their activity. Legislative functions are performed by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which consists of two Chambers acting on a permanent basis: the Senate and the Majilis. The Senate is composed of deputies represented in an order, established by the constitutional law, on two persons from each oblast, major city and the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Majilis consists of deputies elected in an order, established by the constitutional law.

By its administrative-territorial structure the country is divided into 14 regions and 2 cities of republican significance.

Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover in 2011 made up more than 125 billion dollars. The main export goods are produced in the mining, fuel and energy, metallurgical, chemical and grain industries. The country’s main trading partners are Russia, China, European countries and the CIS.

Kazakhstan is implementing a large scale project “New Silk Way” which aims to revive the country’s historical role as a connecting link in the continent and transform it into a largest business and transit hub of the region, a bridge between Europe and Asia. As a result of implementation of this mega-project by 2020 the volume of cargo traffic passing through the country should increase by nearly 2 times and subsequently make up at least 50 million tons a year.

Kazakhstan is a country with a unique culture and a rich past. It is a direct historical successor of state formations established by nomads of the Great steppe. Currently representatives of 130 ethnic groups live in the country. A consultative-advisory body on harmonisation of interethnic relations - the Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan is successfully functioning. In 2012 the IV Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions took place in Astana and was attended by 85 delegations from 40 countries of the world. Annually since 2008 leading economists, analysts and experts from all over the globe are gathered at the Astana Economic Forum. In the beginning of 2011 VII Winter Asian Games were successfully conducted in Astana and Almaty, while the national team took first place in team rankings.

The country is also a recognized leader in the global antinuclear movement. As a whole, nowadays Kazakhstan actively co-operates with various countries-partners within the framework of a variety of international organizations, such as CIS, SOC, EurAsEC and etc.

In July, 2010 the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia was launched and since January 1, 2012 the Common Economic Space between these countries has started functioning. These unions are aimed at effective development of the states-participants’ economy and increase of the population’s living standard on the basis of a principle of free movement of goods, services, as well as financial and human capital through the borders of three countries.

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