Kazakhstan urges world community to ensure CTBT speedy coming into force

Participants in the conference, including representatives of the Organization's Panel of Eminent Persons, as Vice-Chairman of the Nuclear Threat Initiative Desmond Brown, former CTBTO Executive Secretary Wolfgang Hoffman, former UN High Representative for Disarmament Angela Kane, Vice Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan Nobuyasu Abe, the UN representative for disarmament Sergio Duarte and others honored the memory of the victims of nuclear tests with a minute of silence.

During the speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, announced the decision of President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Kazakhstan's renunciation of the nuclear heritage that helped the international community see that a world without nuclear weapons is achievable. "Global security and a secure future for future generations can be guaranteed only when the world completely free of nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan is firmly convinced that the national security of states can be maintained through cooperation and mutual trust "

During the welcoming speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov, announced the decision of President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Kazakhstan's renunciation of the nuclear heritage that helped the international community see that a world without nuclear weapons is achievable.

“Global security and a secure future for future generations can be guaranteed only when the world completely free of nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan is firmly convinced that the national security of states can be maintained through cooperation and mutual trust,” the minister stated.

Moreover, Kairat Abdrakhmanov called upon to encourage the relevant governments and parliaments to sign and ratify the CTBT.

It should be noted a joint statement on a comprehensive nuclear test ban.

“August 29 for Kazakhstan not only recall the tragic consequences of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site, but also unite the efforts of like-minded states, representatives of civil society and individuals in order to build a future free of nuclear threat," stressed The Minister.

 In words of the Kazakh Foreign Minister the Pugwash conference of scientists for peace was held in Astana on August 29 last year, and the Bank of Low Enriched Uranium of the IAEA was launched. September 6 this year, the UN General Assembly will meet for the first high-level meeting on the date of August 29.

"The historic decision of the President of Kazakhstan to close the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site was a convincing political message, which ultimately contributed to international efforts to adopt the CTBT in 1996. Over the years, Kazakhstan has provided serious support to the CTBTO and demonstrated its determination to achieve its goals. Kazakhstan became not only the first country in the world to officially ban nuclear testing, but also a country that abandoned the fourth largest nuclear arsenal, "the Foreign Minister noted.

Kazakhstan intends to work hard to reach common goals and cooperate with a civil society as well.

This work includes interaction with the ATOM (Abolish Testing is Our Mission) international project launched in 2012. The Minister called on everyone to sign an online petition for the ATOM project, which calls for forever banning nuclear testing.

"As a further step, we call on states to declare their support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Kazakhstan signed the document on March 2, 2018and is currently preparing for its ratification, " the head of the authority informed.

 Besides, Mr. Abdrakhmanov expressed the hope that the recent developments around the Korean peninsula, initiated with the Inter-Korean summit and the first meeting between the leaders of the United States and the DPRK, will lead to a complete denuclearization of the peninsula.

“Positive developments in this part of the world can be a breakthrough for the CTBT, and Kazakhstan, given its unique experience of renouncing nuclear weapons, eliminating military infrastructure and choosing a stable and prosperous future, is ready to provide support, " Abdrakhmanov  concluded.

Kairat Zhandybayev