Today, we celebrate one of the most important state holidays of our country – Independence Day.
On this day, December 16, 1991, during a session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan of the 12th convocation, the Constitutional Law "On the State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" was adopted. This law was the logical continuation of the Declaration of State Sovereignty, which had been proclaimed a year earlier.
Each article of the draft law was thoroughly discussed, and at times, difficult questions arose, with opposing opinions and proposals being expressed. However, at 18:14 on December 16, by the majority vote of the people's representatives, the law was adopted. Just 30 minutes later, at 18:44, Turkey became the first to recognize the independence of our young state, followed by Romania, and then the entire international community.
The significance of this law cannot be overestimated. To understand its scale and historical meaning, let me offer one example. When determining state borders between neighboring countries, the first step is the delimitation on maps, followed by the demarcation of those borders directly on the ground. Similarly, with the adoption of the law, the complete and final legal formalization of our independent state – the Republic of Kazakhstan – was achieved.
It is no coincidence that the Declaration of Sovereignty and the Law on Independence later formed the basis of the country's Constitution, which provided the legal foundation for large-scale strategic reforms.
Today, we are at a new stage of development. There is still much to be done on the path to building a Just Kazakhstan and strengthening our sacred independence.
On this solemn day, allow me to wish peace and prosperity to our people, warmth and comfort, harmony and well-being to every home!
Sincerely,
Director of the
Presidential Center
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Bakytzhan TEMIRBOLAT
