Nuclear-weapon-free zones serve as key element to mitigate nuclear risks, Kazakh Ambassador

The Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United States, in partnership with the NGO Arms Control Association (ACA), hosted a discussion titled: “Strengthening Global Security: Advancing Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones”, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Embassy in the U.S.

The event brought together the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United States, Yerzhan Ashikbayev; ACA Executive Director Daryl Kimball; and representatives from “Nuclear Threat Initiative”, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Embassy of Australia, the United States Institute of Peace, and the NGO “Foreign Policy for America”.

During the discussion, Ambassador Ashikbayev highlighted the crucial role of nuclear-weapon-free zones as a key element of international efforts to mitigate nuclear risks and bolster global security. He also noted that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the Semipalatinsk Treaty’s entry into force and the 10th anniversary of the P5 nations signing the Protocol on Negative Security Assurances.

“In this regard, Kazakhstan, as a nation firmly committed to non-proliferation and disarmament, underscores the importance of the U.S. Senate ratification of the Negative Security Assurance Protocols for the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (CANWFZ), the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone (SPNFZ), and the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone (ANWFZ),” the Ambassador stated.

Daryl Kimball emphasized that nuclear-weapon-free zones serve as platforms for enhancing global stability and called on the U.S. Senate to take decisive actions.

Other participants in the discussion underscored the importance of a collective approach, expressing their readiness to further strengthen cooperation, intensify joint efforts to advance the ratification of the Protocols on Negative Security Assurances, and deepen dialogue on issues related to global security and nuclear non-proliferation.

Notably, a conference themed as “Fostering Cooperation and Enhancing Consultation: Mechanisms among the existing nuclear-weapons-free zones” was held in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan jointly with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported August 27.