First President of Kazakhstan awarded “Champion for a World Free of Nuclear Tests” status

First President of Kazakhstan awarded “Champion for a World Free of Nuclear Tests” status

NUR-SULTAN, August 26, 2020 - The First President of Kazakhstan, Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev, was awarded the status of “Champion for a world free of nuclear tests”. This was announced at the Special Session of the UN General Assembly, organized on the occasion of the International Day against Nuclear Tests on August 29.

Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), initiated the award to Nursultan Nazarbayev in recognition of the special historical contribution of Kazakhstan during his leadership to global efforts to build a nuclear-free world. Nazarbayev’s unprecedented decision to close the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site on August 29, 1991, one of the largest in the world, was recognized not only as the first legal ban on nuclear tests in the history of mankind, but also became a substantial foundation to institutionalize the International Day.

As envisioned by the initiators, the “Champions” will conduct targeted outreach activities with states that have not yet signed the CTBT to improve their understanding of the benefits of cooperation with the CTBTO, as well as share their best practices, such as Kazakhstan's voluntary dismantling of its nuclear infrastructure.

Former President of Finland Tarja Halonen was awarded a similar status. The “Champions” simultaneously become members of the CTBTO Eminent Persons Group.

During the UNGA Special Session, the address of the First President to the participants of the event was read by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Mukhtar Tileuberdi.

“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,” Leader of the Nation emphasized in his message.

The First President also urged the international community to follow the example of Kazakhstan and join efforts to stop the 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,” Nazarbayev said in his statement.

This year, the traditional UNGA high-level event was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Opening the meeting, the President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, highlighted the leading role of Kazakhstan in advancing the course towards banning nuclear tests. He stressed that since 1945 more than 2000 nuclear tests have been carried out in the world with devastating consequences for the planet and several generations of people. The President of the UN General Assembly said that 75 years after the creation of the UN, the nuclear threat still exists, thousands of nuclear weapons are stored in warehouses and are ready for use.

The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu read the statement of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, who said that there is no excuse for further delay in achieving the noble goal of a global nuclear test ban, and called on the nations of the world to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Izumi Nakamitsu also added that in the current difficult geostrategic environment, the international community must redouble its efforts to defend the norm against nuclear testing.

In addition to Lassina Zerbo, the meeting was also addressed by Tarja Halonen, civil activists of states affected by nuclear tests - Karina Lester (Australia) and Selina Lim (Marshall Islands), as well as representatives of UN member states.

In the course of the UNGA special session, a meaningful exchange of views took place among the approximately 300 participants from UN member states, authoritative international organizations and NGOs, media and civil society. In addition, an assessment was made of the current efforts to establish a final ban on nuclear tests by ensuring the early entry of the CTBT into force.

The participants, expressing gratitude to Kazakhstan for its leading role in the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, emphasized the fundamental importance of constantly keeping this issue in the focus of the international community. In this regard, many participants noted the high importance of the annual International Day against Nuclear Tests, initiated by Kazakhstan.

On June 18, 2009, at an event dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the cessation of tests at the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev came up with an initiative to declare August 29 the World Day of Renunciation of Nuclear Weapons. As a result of the arrangements, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Events are held annually to remind the world of the dire consequences of nuclear tests and to prevent their resumption in the future.