Prospects of achieving nuclear-weapons-free world in post-Covid era discussed in UK

LONDON, 8 September 2020 – The role of multilateral cooperation in the Covid-19 context was discussed by the speakers of the webinar themed “Post-Covid multilateral cooperation – a chance to achieve a nuclear-weapons-free world?”. The online event was co-hosted by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UK and the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) of the SOAS University of London to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and the International day Against Nuclear Tests.

The event took place in a hybrid format: moderators of the webinar –Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the UK Erlan Idrissov and the Director of the CISD of the SOAS University of London Dr Dan Plesh – joined the discussion from the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the UK, while the distinguished speakers from around the world participated online.

The Covid-19 pandemic has become a test not only for the political systems in various countries, but also for the multilateral system. However, global issues such as nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament remain on the international agenda.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev set the discussion tone for the event. In his welcoming speech, he noted that by voluntarily renouncing the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal and closing the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan showed the world an example of a responsible and decisive approach to preserving global peace and security.

He also marked the changes in global cooperation due to Covid-19 and the increasing importance of collective efforts to develop cooperation for nuclear disarmament.

“The situation in the field of disarmament is indeed critical. Unfortunately, the gap between the nuclear and non-nuclear communities is becoming increasingly wider. We should definitely bring political trust and a systemic dialogue back to the international affairs. In this regard, all nuclear powers bear the highest responsibility to save the humanity from a nuclear catastrophe,” Mr Ashikbayev stressed.

Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and one of the key actors in the international non-proliferation arena, was the main guest of the webinar. He emphasised Kazakhstan has the strongest and the most persistent track record of advocating for an end to nuclear tests.

“Even amidst a global pandemic, unprecedented in the modern age, the fact that we continue to mark the International Day against Nuclear Tests provides us with a stark reminder that this issue is not resolved,” he said, expressing hope that the pandemic would become a watershed moment for multilateralism in the international arena.

Lord David Hannay, member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament and Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-Proliferation, stressed that the first step towards complete nuclear disarmament would be to engage in a serious dialogue on strategic stability and nuclear risk reduction between the P5.

Aidan Liddle, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, spoke on behalf of the British Government. He noted the need for joint efforts to overcome global challenges and stressed the importance of scientific expertise in this sphere.

Alessio Pecorario, the Vatican representative and a senior official of the Dicastery for Promoting Integrated Human Development, spoke about the Pope’s call for peaceful coexistence and the development of international diplomacy.

Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, noted the global community can and should make more effort to achieve complete disarmament, and that the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to call for a global ceasefire was an important reference point for the future work of international leaders.

The webinar highlighted the role of the Russell-Einstein Manifesto published in London in 1955 which highlighted the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and launched the anti-nuclear Pugwash movement.

Vladimir Shkolnik, Chairman of the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan, noted the need to attach greater importance to the international dialogue on nuclear disarmament in order to stimulate international efforts to achieve global peace.

And Peter Jenkins, Chairman of the British Pugwash Group, stressed the importance of nuclear arms control and the need for collective work in the international sphere so that as many states as possible embark on the path of disarmament.

The session provided an opportunity for more than 200 audiences from around the world to hear the views of officials and leading experts on non-proliferation, disarmament and international cooperation, as well as to join a Q&A session on the prospects for a nuclear-weapons-free world.