Kazakhstan to further democratise civil society

Within a month's time, the government of Kazakhstan is to set up a consultative body that will include all political forces of the republic "to work out proposals for the further democratization of the civil society" in the country. President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan gave this instruction to the government speaking at a meeting of the Assembly of the Peoples of Kazakhstan in Astana on Friday.

According to Nazarbayev, "all sections of the population and all politicians" will take part in the work of the new body, a permanently acting conference. The commission will include deputies of the national parliament, members of the government and Presidential administration, as well as representatives of political parties and non-government organizations.

The government of Kazakhstan will regularly report to the head of state on the work of the conference. Nursultan Nazarbayev also declared that the participation of various political forces, including the local opposition, in the work of the conference will make it possible "to see who really wants to improve the life of society and makes useful proposals, and who simply shouts about in the streets."