"Kazakhstan is a multifaith state. Today this feast is being marked throughout the country, just as is the Muslim festival Kurban-ait (in the Turkic transcription adopted in Kazakhstan - among the Arabs it is spelled as Id-al-Adkha - a festival of sacrifice which arrives on the 70th day after the feast (oraz), or ramazan among the Arabs, and after an annual pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca. It is marked in Kazakhstan in the course of three days from February 11 to 13). We mark this day as a day of love between people of all nationalities," said Nazarbayev.
"While inter-religious clashes, struggle and bloodshed rage throughout the world, we in our country maintain good relations. Thanks to friendship and brotherhood and equality of people of different faiths," the president of Kazakhstan pointed out, "we are boosting our economy, and improving the life of the population". "May there always exist this kindness, which I call to maintain, confidence and happiness among all people living in Kazakhstan," said Nazarbayev.
Hegumen and rector of the cathedral Agafan, on behalf of the clerics and congregation of the church, presented Nazarbayev with Easter eggs and a paskha.
