On 30 August 2010 the Republic of Kazakhstan marks its 15th Anniversary of Constitution. The military parade took place in Astana in front of the monument "Kazakh Eli". It was attended by more than 2000 people with the participation of 200 units of military equipment.

One of the main events during the celebrations will be an international conference "Constitution is the basis of democratic development of the state”. As the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev claims, the purpose of the conference is the analysis of the development of the country and contemplating the international experience to be applied in the process of a further improvement of the legal mechanisms of the state.

The first Constitution of independent Kazakhstan was adopted at the 9th Session of Kazakhstan Supreme Soviet on January 28, 1993. The Constitution involved most legal norms that had been adopted since Kazakhstan gained sovereignty: people’s sovereignty; independence of state; separation of powers; recognition of Kazakh language as state one; recognition of President as Head of State, of Supreme, Constitutional and Supreme Arbitration Courts, etc. Parliamentary republic model was taken as a basis for Constitution of 1993.

The working Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted on August 30, 1995 by the Republic-wide Referendum. This day is a public holiday – the Republic of Kazakhstan Constitution Day. In 1998 and 2007, considerable amendments were made in Constitution which enlarged President’s powers.

For the first time in Kazakh history the people had adopted the principal Law of the State, which set up the presidential form of government in the country with a single state power, the source of which is the people. Kazakhstan is firmly and consistently moving towards the consolidation of a democratic rule of law. The Constitution created a legal basis for the constitutional order, enshrining the fundamental principles of state mechanism and the socio-political institutions, established the constitutional status of citizen.

The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan secured the development of democratic processes in society. As the contract between the people and the state, it regulates the fundamental relations, covering all spheres of political, economic, social and spiritual life of the state.

Since ancient times Kazakhstan has never discriminated between races and religions, but instead valued respect, friendship and mutual trust. For centuries the open spaces of the country connected East and West, being part of the Great Silk Road. Dynamic demographics and migration from historical upheavals have made Kazakhstan - which gained sovereignty in December 1991 - one of the most poly-ethnic and religiously diverse states in the world. Yet peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, ethnic groups, cultures and creeds continues on the historical lands in present times.

Today Kazakhstan is the homeland for more than 130 ethnic groups. Since the first day of its independence, building harmonious inter-ethnic relations has been at the core of the nation's politics. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev promotes the peaceful and harmonious principle of ethnic relations, which are clearly written in the nation's constitution.

Kazakhstan has increasingly turned to be seen as a regional leader in the Central Asia, having a sustainable economic growth, advancing its political developments and national welfare. Kazakhstan is developing its reputation as a responsible member of the international community committed to building stable and constructive relations with its neighbours and partners. As a part of this process, Kazakhstan is currently chairing the Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO). Next year, Kazakhstan will chair the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). Both the OSCE and OIC have over 55 members and chairing them is a great honour for any country.

As the President of Kazakhstan once put it in his statement “our fundamental law is a solid ground upon which we are constructing the new society, the new government and new economy”. Modern Kazakhstan has a strong political system, social stability, harmonious relations, high international authority and a dynamic economy.