Due to N. Nazarbayev's outstanding leadership Semipalatinsk polygon became symbol of hope - UN Sec Gen

ASTANA. December 1. KAZINFORM /Serik Sabekov/ Due to outstanding and visionary leadership of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site has been transformed into a symbol of hope. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said taking the floor at the OSCE Summit in Astana today.

"This year I had the privilege to visit the former polygon. Due to outstanding and visionary policy of President Nursultan Nazarbayev it was transformed from the site of tragic events into the symbol of hope", he noted.

As Ban Ki-moon highlighted, the Semipalatinsk polygon has become the epicenter of nuclear-weapons-free area of Asia. "Other regions should follow this example", he added.