The meeting participants honored the memory of those who had been repressed by a minute of silence and laid flowers at the Monument.
In her speech, Gulshara Abdykalikova noted that more than 3 million people became victims of political repression and hunger. The Secretary of State stressed the words of the President of Kazakhstan in program article "Future Outlook: Public Consciousness Improvement", "The lessons of the 20th c. are tragic for our people. First, the natural path of national development was broken and foreign forms of social organization were imposed. Secondly, there was a terrible demographic blow to the nation, and it has affected over a century. Thirdly, the Kazakh language and culture were almost lost. Fourth, the territory of Kazakhstan in many regions has turned to an ecological disaster”.
Further, the Secretary of State took part in the international conference, together with Krymbek Kusherbayev, Akim of Kyzylorda region, Darkhan Mynqbay, Deputy Cairman, Head of the APK Secretariat, the Majilis deputies of Kazakhstan’s Parliament, representatives of state bodies, members of the APK and public consent councils, heads of secretariats of Regional Assemblies, foreign and domestic experts, scientific intelligentsia also took part in the conference, descendants of the repressed and deported people.
In her welcoming speech, the State Secretary noted the high socio-political significance and practical focus of the conference, which makes it possible to expand the boundaries of historical consciousness, look at the events and facts of that era in their interrelation and continuity.
The conference also considered "Alash" values in the context of modern statehood of Kazakhstan, the experience of historical analysis of repression, famine and deportation period and other issues.
Gulshara Abdykalikova stressed that discussing the tragic pages of Kazakhstan’s history in the first half of the 20th c. contributes much to the process of public consciousness improvement.
Following the conference results the Appeal to the people of Kazakhstan was adopted.
In the second half of the day, the State Secretary visited "Atameken" Children's Village and the Students' Palace of the Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda State University.