[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 1, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARK MEADOWS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 1, 2017

  Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Republic of 
Kazakhstan and its President on taking significant steps towards a more 
open and democratized form of governance. Recently, President Nursultan 
Nazarbayev announced constitutional reforms aimed at improving the 
accountability of government and the transfer of many powers to the 
Parliament and ministry level.
  Last December, Kazakhstan celebrated twenty-five years of 
independence from the former Soviet Union. In those twenty-five years, 
Kazakhstan has become a modernized republic, moved towards a market-
based economy, and stewarded growth and prosperity for its citizens. 
Kazakhstan's President Nazarbayev is now taking the welcomed steps 
towards implementing the political and constitutional reforms that a 
modern republic, governed by the people and for the people, requires 
for continued long-term stability and prosperity.
  I am proud of the United States' partnership with Kazakhstan as it 
continues to make clear its commitment to the rights of its citizens, 
and we encourage its progress in protecting religious minorities and 
freedom of the press. These commendable steps towards the 
democratization of government serve as an example for other countries 
in the region.
  In the coming months, I look forward to welcoming and working with 
the new Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov, and 
commend the Kazakh government for the willingness to continuously 
improve the country's governmental system.

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