Former presidents of Kazakhstan and Finland honoured for banning nuke tests
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan – The first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was awarded the status of “Champion for a world free from nuclear tests,” the foreign ministry of Kazakhstan said on August 27.
“This was announced at the Special Session of the UN General Assembly, organised on the occasion of the International Day against Nuclear Tests – August 29. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), initiated the assignment of a new status to Nursultan Nazarbayev in recognition of the special historical contribution of Kazakhstan during his leadership to global efforts to build a nuclear-free world,” the press service of the Foreign Ministry said.
The former President of Finland Tarja Halonen also received the new unique status – “champions CTBTO».
Nazarbayev’s message was read by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry Mukhtar Tleuberdi at the videoconference. “I am grateful that he has offered me the new unique status of the ‘CTBTO Champion’. I consider it as an honor to accept the Organization’s proposal and would like to assure that I will exert all my strength and knowledge for the successful fulfillment of the new mission,” Nazarbayev wrote in his address text.
“According to his opinion, should we pay attention to here? First. We should be more persistent in convincing those countries that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Treaty – and without any preconditions. Second. It is important to work out an initiative for the states on whose territory the test sites are located to eliminate the infrastructure of these facilities. Kazakhstan has the necessary practical experience and is ready to share it,” the ministry said.
Nazarbayev reminded, that Kazakhstan has experienced all the horrors of nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk test site. For 40 years, 456 explosions were carried out on it, from which one and a half million of my fellow citizens suffered.
Second, having gained independence in 1991, Kazakhstan made a voluntary choice in favor of abandoning the world’s 4th most powerful arsenal of nuclear weapons.
“History has confirmed the correctness of this step – with our vivid example we have shown that one can move on the path to progress and prosperity in a peaceful way.
Third, I followed this idea based on a deep inner conviction that the future of humanity is connected only with a world without nuclear weapons. 75 years ago, nuclear weapons were used for the first time in world history, as a result of which Hiroshima and Nagasaki were practically wiped off the face of the earth. Several generations have passed since the tragic destruction of that catastrophe, the horrors and consequences of nuclear tests are beginning to be forgotten,” the message read.
“Today the world is again on the edge of a deep abyss. We are all witnessing a geopolitical crisis in relations between the United States and Russia. The confrontation between Washington and Beijing is gaining momentum. A technological arms race is unfolding, including in space. The legal foundations of the already fragile global regime of nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful use of atomic energy have been undermined. In these conditions, I would like to appeal to the international community to follow the example of Kazakhstan and join the efforts to stop this nuclear madness.
I believe that the leaders of the United States, Russia, China and the European Union bear special responsibility for the future of the planet. I am convinced that if a summit is held in this quadrilateral format, then one of its main topics should be the development of a multilateral agreement on a phased and proportional reduction in nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan is ready to provide a platform for this summit. I think that the UN can also agree to organize and conduct such negotiations in New York,” Nazarbayev resumed.
On June 18, 2009, at a ceremonial event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the cessation of tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, as well as on July 1, 2009 at the opening of the III Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev took the initiative to declare August 29 the International Day against nuclear weapons.
After gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan renounced the world’s fourth most destructive arsenal of nuclear weapons inherited from the Soviet Union, and on August 29, 1991, closed the largest Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, which became the most significant contribution to strengthening the non-proliferation regime.
As a result of a long process of approval, a draft resolution “International Day against Nuclear Tests” was submitted to the UNGA First Committee. The resolution was co-sponsored by 26 states.
On December 2, 2009, a UN General Assembly resolution was adopted declaring August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. According to the resolution, events will be held annually to remind the world of the dire consequences of nuclear tests and prevent their resumption in the future. This is the recognition by the international community of the importance of the date of August 29, the day of the official closure of the Semipalatinsk test site, which is of historical importance not only for Kazakhstan, but for all humankind.