In his annual address to the nation, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev acknowledged that Kazakhstan had "not yet fully resolved issues concerning the strengthening of its independence and protection of its sovereignty" and called for national unity, public order and sweeping institutional reforms amid deteriorating international security, KazTAG reported on Oct. 28. He also criticized government officials for persistent failures in public administration, economic management and public services, as well as for endemic corruption.