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Astana is in my heart

The summer has come. Lots of people like it because summer is the time of holidays, that is time for traveling, relaxing, gardening, enjoying privacy with nature and ,of course, visiting new places. A lot of people will visit Astana this summer because the capital of Republic of Kazakhstan celebrates its tenth jubilee and I suppose, the celebrations in the capital will be magnificent.

In order to bring up Kazakhstani patriotism the akim of our region initiated the pupils' tours to the capital. Pupils of Petropavlovsk and the region visited Astana and enjoyed its sights. They are proud of our capital, they really love and admire it and express their feelings in compositions devoted to the jubilee of Astana. There are some extracts from the compositions written by them:

«Nowadays Astana is the biggest mega polis of our country, it is the city of new generation, the capital of dramatically developing Kazakhstan. For me it is the city of the future. It is like a visit card of our Republic because it shows the sweat of millions of people who stone by stone built this amazing city, it shows the history and the culture of our nation, it shows the achievements which were made by our country for many years, it shows everything what we have».

«…Nursultan Nazarbaev, who is a very distinguished personality, has been leading his country very wisely after careful considerations. Our president understands the significance of all reforms in the country and in the capital. It was he who insisted on transferring the capital… Thanks to his wise decisions and efforts, I think Astana will be the largest economic and political centre of Asia in the future…

I was lucky to visit Astana. To my mind, it is the most beautiful city, the city of the future of my country. As the capital is «the first title page» of the country, the government did everything in order to make it pleasant to read. I was in Astana one year ago, but I am still in delight from seeing it. The architects and builders working in the capital create wonderful architectural ensembles, which harmoniously combine modern design and oriental style…

Grand buildings of the Government and Parliament Houses and other administrative establishments meet all modern requirements. A great number of new institutions and restored buildings attract the attention of the Astana citizens and tourists. Every year the city hosts various international industrial exhibitions, conferences, musical contests, and festivals of the Kazakhstan people. In 1999 by the decision of UNESCO Astana was awarded the title of World City.

I was impressed by magnificent Baiterek. The Baiterek Tower has become the city's symbol and its visit card. The height of the construction is 105 meters. At the mark of 97 meters there is an observation deck providing a bird's eye view of the city. The figure of 97 was not chosen at random. It symbolizes the year of moving the capital from Almaty to Astana.»

«…Astana is one of the biggest cultural and art centres in Kazakhstan. The Presidential Cultural Centre of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been established in the centre of the new city. The structure of the Centre includes a museum with various rooms and displays representing the historical values of the past and the present of Kazakhstan. There is a library containing more than a million of books and electronic catalogues in the centre. The Kazakh National Music Academy has been established in Astana. This Academy combines all the stages of specialised and general musical education into one school of uninterrupted musical education. The Academy is a member of the European Association of Conservatories, Academies and Musical High Schools…

The theatre in the capital is full of popular events. Spectators like attending events in such theatres as the Theatre of Drama and Music named after Kuanyshbaev (first opened on the 15th of November 1991) In 2000 the National Opera and Ballet Theatre named after K. Baiseitova was opened. The new cinema complex named «Cinema-City» was also opened in 2000. It was built in accordance with the best traditions of international cinemas and it has become one of the favourite places to visit for the people of Astana. I bly recommend you to visit it too.

Today Astana is a rapidly developing modern city, in which architectural shape intertwined the best traditions of European and Eastern art of building. For some years, population of the city has grown on one third. In record short term the city landscape has unrecognizably changed, and the city continues to be built up.

By development of the architectural concept of the city the idea of President Nursultan Nazarbaev about giving the Eurasian shape to the city has been considered. In construction there were used the European technologies. The Turkish, Italian, French, Swiss companies participated in it together with the local companies. The accelerated rates of construction and national support have allowed to construct the modern city in the steppes of Kazakhstan with unique shape and style for 6-7 years…»

Pupils know the history of the city as well:

«…The former names of Astana were Akmola, Tselinograd, and Akmolinsk. Akmolinsk acquired the status of a town in 1862. It had been famous since long ago for its fairs. Merchants from all regions of Kazakhstan, Russia and Central Asian countries arrived there. As the development of virgin lands began, the town was renamed Tselinograd and typified the administrative centre of an agricultural region. And such towns as Orenburg, Kyzyl — Orda, Almaty, and Astana were the capitals of Kazakhstan at different periods of time. In 1997 due to political, economical, and international circumstances the capital was transferred to the heart of Kazakh steppe to Akmola. In spite of a difficult economic situation the young Kazakhstan took that not simple decision to move the capital. It was renamed to Astana.»

«The former names of Astana were Akmola, Tselinograd and Akmolinsk. Akmolinsk steppes have always been the territory of interethnic ties. Even Herodotus mentioned about The Great Silk Way, which lay through these steppes in the middle of the first millennium B.C. Many caravan ways and numerous tracks gave life to the towns with flourishing trade. The town has always been a contact area where different ethnicities and cultures interacted. And Akmola, its history which started in 1824, was a popular trading and economic steppe centre. This town was originally founded as a fortress and named Akmolinsk. The next step in the development of this town was cultivating virgin lands. Thousands of volunteers from the former USSR came here to build the town and live there.

Akmolinsk was renamed to Tselinograd in 1961 and became a beautiful modern city. Before getting of capital's status Astana was a regional center and didn't have serious suppositions to become a large metropolis. In 1998 with transferring the capital from Almaty to Akmola, the city got a new symbolic name Astana. Transferring of the capital was caused by economical, ecological, and geographical reasons. The main arguments in choosing the place for capital were the general condition of the city, territory, and a well-developed transport system. Transferring of the capital widened influence of Astana to bordering regions. It's a positive step because it stimulated the prosperity of the northern, central and eastern regions.»

«Astana was announced as the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997. Firstly it was called Akmola. At the beginning not everyone believed that the city could be the capital. But from the very beginning everything was exactly thought of and after one or two years it showed its first results. In 1998 Akmola was renamed as Astana. The architect of the city, who is Japanese, was chosen from the competition of the most famous architects. Kise Kurokava and the architects from all over the world worked on the plan of development of the city by 2030…»

They invite their friends to visit the capital:

«Dear John, It's great that you decided to come. I am very glad, as Astana today is capable to receive visitors from all over the world…

Dear John, I also advise you to make an ethno tour on the ancient ground of a fertile Sary-Arka, rest in the nomadic places removed from a habitual civilization, in the primordial environment of nomadic Kazakhs, acquaintance to national kitchen, a life and customs of Kazakh people.

Therefore, this unique place is for those who wish to familiarize with culture of our country. I will be glad to meet you and I promise unforgettable impressions which the capital of Republic Kazakhstan will present you.»

Young generations connect their future with the capital and dream to make the contribution in the development of the capital and the country:

«Astana inspired many of our great poets, writers, painters, sculptors, composers, and actors. I'd like to say that I've learned so many exciting things about Astana and was inspired too. I have the b wish to be a useful citizen for my country, for my Motherland. «Don't ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country», said John Kennedy. I like this quotation, these wise words are true for me, and they help me to form my moral and civic qualities.»

«In my opinion the history of Astana — it is the history of independent Kazakhstan. Dramatical development of Astana — it is the symbol of hope and confidence of our nation in our future.»

«We are convinced that our capital will show common goals and abilities of more than 130 nationalities living peacefully in Kazakhstan and will be the symbol of an absolutely new country developing according to the most incredible and amazing ideas of Nursultan Nazarbaev's programme «Kazakhstan —2030».

Digest prepared by Olga Gribovskaya, A senior lecturer of the IPK and PPK