THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS!

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan at the Conference on Facilitating Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Let me begin by extending my warm greetings to all of you at the annual meeting of countries that have chosen the path leading to a world free of nuclear weapons.

Twenty years ago, on 29 August 1991, we closed a tragic page in the history of our country, when President Nursultan Nazarbayev, by his unilateral decree, shut down the Semipalatinsk test site, one of the largest in the world.

From the very first day of its independence, Kazakhstan has demonstrated to the entire world its sincere commitment to a future that free of nuclear weapons, and we continue to make our case for the “disarmament race”. We reiterate firmly that we need to take further energetic steps aimed at lowering the nuclear threat.

A major step in this direction would be the earliest entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which is a catalyst of the disarmament process and a guarantee for strengthening the nuclear weapons non-proliferation regime.

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Environmental Issues

The issues of sustainable development and environmental protection should be among priority items on the UN Agenda. Their solution is definitely a priority for Kazakhstan, which has been affected by such man-made and natural disasters as the dying Aral Sea and the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground. Humanitarian, social and economic implications of these and other disasters continue to have a negative effect on the sustainable development not only of Kazakhstan but of the entire Central Asian region. In this context, Kazakhstan calls for a closer international cooperation in the solution of problems involving the efforts to deal with the effects of these and other natural and man-made disasters.

Millennium Development Goals

Kazakhstan believes that issues of development and related challenges involving timely and effective achievement of the Millennium Development Goals should continue to be the focus of attention of the international community. The view that the framework for a collective security system can be established through creating conditions for development of States is of special importance. It is encouraging to note that the outcome document adopted by the world Summit has reaffirmed that development is a central goal and that sustainable development in its economic, social and cultural dimensions is an important area of work of the entire United Nations system.

Statement by H.E. Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov

New York City, 23 September 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by extending my warm greetings to all of you at the annual meeting of countries that have chosen the path leading to a world free of nuclear weapons. More....