In May 2024, Kazakhstan, alongside Australia, is poised to lead the International Conference of the IAEA on Nuclear Security. This initiative will follow the 67th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency held last year, during which a Kazakh resolution regarding the ‘Restoration of Sovereign Equality in the IAEA’ received widespread approval.
The global community currently faces several problems related to nuclear arms control triggered by the ending of the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles and the uncertainty encompassing the Treaty on Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms between the United States and the Russian Federation. The expansion of nuclear potential by nuclear powers and the pursuit of nuclear programs by certain countries, including for the acquisition of nuclear weapons, have cause for increased concern. Likewise, the status of biological weapons, particularly with regards to the Biological Weapons Convention of 1975, remains tense due to regulatory gaps and inadequacies.
Since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in 1991, Kazakhstan has been heavily involved in nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security in Central Asia. Early on, in 1993, Kazakhstan was part of the initial group of nations in the then-Commonwealth of Independent States to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Furthermore, in 1996, it became a member of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. In addition to this, in 2006, it signed the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia.
The International Conference of the IAEA on Nuclear Safety (ICONS-2024), set to take place from May 20-24 this year in Vienna under the joint chairmanship of Kazakhstan and Australia, exemplifies the country’s commitment to nuclear safety. This key event will unite heads of foreign policy and relevant departments as well as over 2,000 experts in the field of nuclear safety from 178 IAEA member states. Among other strategic initiatives, the launch of the International Fund for Assistance to Victims of Nuclear Tests is expected soon. Together, these initiatives underscore Kazakhstan’s commitment to achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.
Kazakhstan, however, recognizes that nuclear energy is an increasingly significant global presence. Several countries consider it a reliable, eco-friendly, predictable, and cost-effective energy source. In light of this, Kazakhstan, a leader in uranium production, remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards in nuclear safety.
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