Научная статья на тему 'Modern Kazakhstan: Islam and International Cooperation'

Modern Kazakhstan: Islam and International Cooperation Текст научной статьи по специальности «Социальная и экономическая география»

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Текст научной работы на тему «Modern Kazakhstan: Islam and International Cooperation»

serious support of the federal Center through investing money in the most promising economic branches and granting donations and subsidies to deteriorating industries, the rupture of the previous economic ties and the existence of whole groups of unemployed people do not allow to draw an optimistic conclusion concerning the nearest future of these republics - whether they will succeed in overcoming the crisis phenomena and achieve self-sufficiency. The preservation of all these unresolved problems in the North Caucasian region will mean increased strategic risks for the development of Russia.

Strategicheskiye risk razvitiya Rossii: Otsenki i prognoz. Moscow, 2010, pp. 195-218.

L. Aristova,

Political analyst

MODERN KAZAKHSTAN: ISLAM AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

One of the key tasks in the present-day world is the establishment of mutually advantageous cooperation, or interaction, in various spheres of the economy within the framework of the integration process. In the epoch of globalization and rapprochement of different countries and growing international competition, conditions emerge for the setting up of economic alliances. The emerging problems and prospects for a dialogue between Asian and European countries are often connected with ideological confrontation, and first and foremost, Islam and the ideology of western countries. The word "Islam" in the modern world is for many people a key one, irrespective of their religious feelings. For some it has a positive meaning, for others it is connected with terrorism. Islam is not simply religion. According to some data circulated in the mass media, Muslims have the image of

fanatical extremists in the world, which provokes anti-Islamic sentiments in some European countries. In many European states a greater part of the population (up to 60 percent) takes the Moslem world and interaction with it for a threat. Such is a conclusion contained in a report published by the World Economic Forum (Geneva) in January 2008.

In the existing situation, when a "psychological war" has been declared on Islam, the Muslims should cease to be on the defensive. Europe should realize full well that terror is not Islam, dictatorship is not Islam, oppression of women is not Islam.

If we speak of Kazakhstan, it can be said that the country can not evolve another model of Islam, one of its own. Otherwise, a scenario of the coming of Muslim values to our country's life could be written by other forces and other ideologists.

The Kazakh Muslims should not divide themselves into sects and currents, should not follow the advice of hundreds of pseudo-scholars or thousands of theological books of ancient time, but should turn to the main source - the Koran. The modern understanding and interpretation of the Koran makes it possible to conclude that the society recommended by Islam is almost completely in line with the interests of humankind. This is not a simple declaration, but an objective conclusion.

In the words of the Minister of foreign affairs of Kazakhstan Marat Tajin, "Asia is our common home. It is not a simple continent, but one of exceptional variety. However, to our regret, it is an embodiment of many challenges, threats and conflicts. Yet, Asia is the cradle of such world religions as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Judaism, which proclaim and call for kindness, enlightenment, culture, noble traditions, peace and tolerance. "

Kazakhstan is one of the modern independent states of Central Asia. It is a secular state, but has close economic and cultural ties with many countries of the Moslem world. Various peoples with various cultures and confessions lived in Kazakhstan for many centuries, which had a considerable influence on a special character of the development of Islamic civilization in the region.

The development ways of Islam and its influence on ideology, social life and the economy are discussed at various state levels in present-day Kazakhstan. In September 2007, the Assembly of the Peoples of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in its capital. Representatives of a number of neighboring countries, public and religious figures and persons from international organizations were present. They discussed the problems of Islam in a modern state, Kazakhstan's relations with the Moslem world, the ideology of religious extremism, etc.

Speeches of participants in the Assembly conference showed that Islam is not simply a religion, but a phenomenon of versatile aspects. It exerts influence on the country's economic life, its ties with other Moslem countries, and also with Russia, where Islam occupies an important place in economic, cultural and public life broaden and strengthen.

A special Center of Islamic Economy and Law has been set up at the Kazakhstan Humanitarian University. In June 2008 it organized an international conference on the subject "Islam: Tendencies and Prospects of Its Development in the 21st Century," in which scholars from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan and other countries were present. It discussed the problems of the role of Islam in the modern world and its further development. For such countries as Kazakhstan the questions of economics and legal, political and social science should have the priority character.

With its advantageous geographical position the Republic of Kazakhstan, just as at the time of the "Great Silk Route", is greatly interested in broadening and strengthening its international connections with Asian and Europe. The country's geopolitical situation is rather a complex one, taking into account a considerable number of sparsely populated undeveloped districts, and at the same time the presence of districts rich in natural resources (hydrocarbons and minerals). Kazakhstan is busy implementing vast projects in all spheres of the economy. The oil and gas industries develop especially rapidly. The government of Kazakhstan devotes much attention to the development and renovation of the transport infrastructure, especially the port of Aktau on the Caspian Sea, which is one of the major transport hubs in the Europe - Asia transport corridor.

According to the data of Kazakh economists, the total volume of cargo transportation on the Caspian Sea will increase up to 70 million tons in the near future.

The main items of Kazakhstan's export are oil and oil products, coal, non-ferrous metals, copper, nickel, manganese, ferrous alloys, mineral fertilizers, grain, sunflower, etc.

The Ministry of transport and communications of Kazakhstan has worked out a transport strategy of the republic up to 2020. It determined the priority projects oriented to export to be tackled during the period.

The Islamic sector of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan will develop irrespective of whether there is an economic crisis or not, or the activity of its supporters or opponents. The Director of the Center of Islamic Economics and Law at the Kazakhstan Humanitarian University M. Smagulov is an ardent supporter of the integration of Moslem countries of the CIS, who received education at the oldest university of the Islamic world - Al-Azkhar in Cairo. Assessing the

possibility of interaction of Kazakhstan and Russia in the sphere of education, he notes that much could be done in the sphere of studying Islam.

An agreement has been signed with a Qatar bank which will open its affiliation in Kazakhstan. The Center of Islamic Economics and Law cooperates with Islamic development banks in Kazakhstan, banks in other countries, and also with Arab banks.

It was planned to hold the 7th All-world Islamic Economic Forum in Kazakhstan in 2011. This forum, along with Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the "Islamic Conference" Organization in 2011, are to play an important role in the further strengthening of trade and economic ties between Moslem countries. It is the known fact that about 70 percent of the world oil reserves and half of all natural gas reserves are concentrated in 57 member-countries of the "Islamic Conference" Organization. Their aggregate GDP comprises $1.7 trillion, or eight percent of the volume of the entire world economy.

For working out a plan for the introduction of the Islamic bank system in Kazakhstan an interdepartmental group has been set up to regulate and supervise the financial market and financial organizations, which consisted of representatives of various republican ministries and departments, and also the Association of financiers of Kazakhstan.

A special interest in the development of the Islamic system of financing the economy of Kazakhstan is connected with the fact that the republic is supposed to adopt a law on the Islamic bank system, which will bring many innovations to this sphere. According to Kazakh economists, many western entrepreneurs were not familiar with the specific features of Islamic business. It is known that the principles of the operation of Islamic banks have practically been untouched by the world financial crisis. This is why Islamic banks now become the

biggest investors in the world and could be a reliable source of financing the growing economy of Kazakhstan for a long time to come, in contrast to European banks, which require the presence of a borrowed property and whose interest rate reaches 20 to 25 percent. And repayment to European banks should be made irrespective of the work of a company. The principle of the operation of Islamic banks is different - a bank takes part in a project on a par with the given company, sharing all risks. If a project fails through, the bank loses money along with the company, and if it is successful, the profit from it is shared half-and-half.

Due to the ban on a bonus in the form of an interest, there is no interest on deposits. Proceeding from the principle of participation of all sides in risks, there is no guarantee of return or recompense on deposits. As a result of its investment activity, an Islamic bank distributes profit among investors in proportion to their deposits, and in case of loss neither clients nor Islamic bank get recompense. Besides, Kazakhstan will adhere to the rules according to which Islamic investors have no right to finance projects which are not in line with the Sharia law, to purchase shares of the companies which produce or sale arms, alcohol, tobacco and pork, deal with the entertainment industry (cinema houses, casinos, etc.), and also insurance and financial companies working at the expense of interest on deals.

At present the government of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Bank of development discuss the question of issuing Islamic securities in the tenge. If they reach an agreement, Kazakhstan will become another country after Malaysia where the Islamic Bank of development issued securities in national currency. Besides, the share of Islamic financing should reach five to seven percent of the Kazakh financial market.

At present the Islamic Bank of development carries on a dialogue with Kazakhstan's Ministry of industry and trade with a view to issuing

infrastructural bonds and financing the development and improvement of the fuel and energy industry in Ust-Kamenogorsk with the participation of AES Company. This question can be solved in the nearest future.

At present private entrepreneurs and rank-and-file citizens in Kazakhstan are not anxious to buy products or services of the Islamic sector. "We want Kazakhstan to become the regional center of Islamic financial transactions, we want the securities issued on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan to be recognized by people who would like to buy these products or get the services according to the Islamic principles of financial operations," said the deputy chairman of the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan G. Uzbekov.

Meanwhile, it became known that Kazakhstan's second biggest bank, "Turan Aleyem," and the "Emirates Islamic Bank" from the United Arab Emirates planned to open a bank in Kazakhstan, which would work on the basis of the Sharia laws. It is envisaged to create a joint venture which would offer corporative and retail products. Each side will have 50% of capital.

The distinguishing feature of Islamic financing is the ban on collection of any interest on credits (nominal, simple and compound, fixed or floating). In order to get income from crediting, the financial institution in question should either be the participant sharing fully all risks and bonuses of the enterprise, or take part in trade and receive profit from the difference between the cost of commodity and its sale price. Trade contracts should be based on the principles of justice and should not contribute to the unlawful enrichment of any party, which, in essence, is the foundation of traditional business.

An important factor existing at present, which can radically change for the better the economic situation of the Republic of

Kazakhstan and each of its neighboring countries is the creation of the Caspian macroregion.

All countries of the Caspian region and their neighbors actively develop all branches of the economy, establish efficient foreign economic ties, and take part in the construction of various transport routes at present. This is seen especially clearly in Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

The latter two countries develop their economic projects in the direction of the arid Caspian shore. These two countries, just as other Central Asian and Caucasian republics - Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan - have chosen the raw material development of their economies as the main direction of economic advancement.

Russia also exerts no little effort to the development of the transport infrastructure on the Caspian shore, which can be seen on the example of building the new sea port of Olya, a 50-kilometer railway line leading to it from the station of Yandyki, and the development of the port of Makhachkala. The authorities of Astrakhan Region implement an active economic program by putting forward promising proposals.

The main obstacle for gaining the desired results by the Caspian countries is their disunity in the economic sphere. Moreover, competition and isolationism are growing between them. This is confirmed by the fact that they are ready to lay out new transport trunk lines and roads parallel to the already operating ones in order to avoid crossing the border with their neighbor. The countries of the European Union pursue a quite opposite strategy developing international transport corridors.

The striving to gain favorable economic and social positions takes the form of regionalization. It emerged as a movement protecting small countries from the threats of globalization and those of economic

take-over by transnational corporations. The basic factor of regionalization, along with territorial proximity, is historical kinship and similar mentality. The striving of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other Asian countries for regional solidarity means that they are unwilling to remain a raw material base of other states.

A vivid example of striving to gain mutual benefit is the construction of the Uzen - Gyzylgai - Bereket - Etrek - Gorgan railway line, which was initiated by the head of the state of Turkmenistan G. Berdymuhamedov. The opening ceremony at the start of construction took place in Bereket on December 1, 2007, with high officials of Iran and Kazakhstan being present at it.

Speaking of the economic expediency of the construction of this new railway, G. Berdymuhamedov emphasized that it would be linked with the transport network of Europe and Asia. Thus, both Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan become a transport center of continental importance, which will bring great economic benefit from transit transportation and give an impetus to the further development of all-round international cooperation.

The new transport corridor, which will connect countries of the region in the third millennium, will contribute to integration on the basis of real economic benefit and equal partnership. This was also noted by President Ahmadinejad of Iran in his letter to President G. Berdymuhamedov of Turkmenistan on the occasion of the opening of an exhibition of Iranian commodities in Ashkhabad, in which more than 80 leading companies of Iran took part.

A bilateral intergovernmental commission of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan held negotiations recently in the Turkmen capital, discussing the implementation of the project on building the North -South transport-communication corridor and the construction of the Caspian gas pipeline. A bilateral protocol was signed, defining the

major directions and stages of the project and confirming the readiness of the countries concerned to expand and diversify their mutually advantageous trade and economic cooperation, including the fuel and energy sector, agriculture and fisheries, tourism, and the sphere of transport and telecommunications.

The implementation of these plans depends on the political and financial stability in the world, as well as in the negotiating countries. Today, in connection with the slump of economic activity in Kazakhstan and the neighboring countries most projects will be frozen.

Islamsky factor v istorii i sovremennosti.

Moscow, 2011, pp. 188-198.

M. Shumilov,

D.Sc. (Hist.)

THE ROLE OF KYRGYZSTAN IN REALIZATION OF THE USA STRATEGIC INTERESTS IN CENTRAL ASIA

The events of 11 September were used as a convenient information cover for consolidation of the American military presence in Afghanistan, which became for them a strategic springboard to ensure the control over Central Asia (CA) as a whole. In the end of the same month the USA asked the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic (KR) to provide the air space for operations in Afghanistan and got the positive answer. On 11 December the parliament of the KR confirmed the decision of the government to put international airport "Manas" at the disposal of the USA air force. This decision was coordinated with the partners of DKB and ShOS. Thus, the airbase in size of 224 hectares was created in December 2001 in the KR for military actions and humanitarian assistance within the framework of the USA anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan as a United Nations mandatory 28

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