The delegation of Kazakhstan made a statement at the opening of 2021 session of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva

On 21 January Ms Zhanar Aitzhanova, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN Office in Geneva spoke at the opening session of the Conference on disarmament. 

Bearing the position of Kazakhstan on the earliest possible start of substantive negotiations within the UN disarmament forum, Zhanar Aitzhanova expressed support to the initiative of the Belgian presidency on the draft program of work. In this regard she underlined the importance of negotiations on such priorities as nuclear disarmament, negative security assurances to non-nuclear states, fissile materials cut-off and prevention of arms race in outer space.

Stressing the contribution of Kazakhstan in the field of nuclear disarmament, the Permanent Representative informed the delegations that this year the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site will be celebrated. This decision by Kazakhstan led to the closure of nuclear test sites in other countries and the adoption of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Speaking of the impact of the pandemic on international relations Zhanar Aitzhanova underlined the increased relevance of the Biological Weapons Convention. In this regard Kazakhstan will work on the implementation of the initiative of President Tokayev to establish the International Agency for Biological Safety accountable to the UN Security Council. 

In conclusion of her statement the representative of Kazakhstan informed the delegations about the opening of the bust of Abai Kunanbaiuly, a great Kazakh scholar and poet, in December 2020. His bust was placed in front of entrance to the Council Chamber, seat of the Conference on disarmament, and his words "Love all humanity like your own kin" are meant to remind of universal nature of UN efforts in the name of peace and unity.