Astana to host International Anti-Nuclear Conference in August
On August 29, Astana will host an international conference entitled "From the nuclear test ban to a world free of nuclear weapons," which will be dedicated to the International Day against Nuclear Tests declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2009, the Kazakh MFA's press service reports.
More than 80 foreign delegations have already confirmed their participation. This was announced at the first meeting of the Organising Committee of the Conference, which was held on May 7 under the chairmanship of Nurlan Nigmatulin, the speaker of the Majilis (lower house) of the Parliament.
Unprecedented anti-nuclear measures that Kazakhstan undertakes today are widely recognised. "The international community highly appreciates the initiatives of President Nursultan Nazarbayev on nuclear safety. Due to the political will and firmness of the Head of State, Kazakhstan has voluntarily renounced the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world and is strengthening the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the former test area," the press service of the Majilis wrote on May 7.
Holding the international Conference is part of activities the country is undertaking in order to implement the Astana Declaration "On a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World," which resulted from the anti-nuclear forum held in the capital city on October 12, 2011.
The international Conference this year will be held on the day of the twenty first anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site.
The event was initiated by the Majilis of the Parliament, the Nazarbayev Centre, and the international association "Parliamentarians for Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament." The latter includes members of parliaments from more than 80 countries around the world.
The first meeting of the Organising Committee brought together government members and heads of nongovernmental organisations. The Committee members discussed proposals for the Conference agenda, as well as issues related to the preparation and holding of the event.
The Conference programme will include issues of global security, nuclear terrorism, use of severe sanctions against aggressors, development of peaceful nuclear energy and many other topics. The Conference attendees are also to visit the territory of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, which has today become a modern centre for new technologies.
"The global anti-nuclear initiatives of President Nursultan Nazarbayev are highly praised by the world community. It is proved by the fact that some 80 international delegations have confirmed their participation in our conference," Nigmatulin said at the meeting.
Following the Conference, the participants will adopt a petition in support of the initiatives of Kazakhstan's President in the field of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
The international forum will be an important political event and play a significant role in consolidating the international community's efforts to create a world free of nuclear weapons, according to the organizers.
