On January 15, 2010, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Secretary of State - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Kanat Saudabayev met IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna.
Kanat Saudabayev highly assessed the IAEA’s activities aimed at expanding the peaceful uses of atomic energy for the benefit of humanity, and strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime and improve international security.
Saudabayev emphasized Kazakhstan, having renounced the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world and has unilaterally closed the world’s second largest Soviet nuclear test site on its territory, made a historic contribution to the strengthening of nonproliferation and disarmament process, and has once again reaffirmed the strong commitment of our country to the assumed international obligations. Since the early days of independence Kazakhstan with these steps proclaimed itself, as a truly peace-loving nation, and a responsible partner in the process of nuclear disarmament and strengthening of global security.
Secretary of State - Foreign Minister briefed IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on the latest initiative of Kazakhstan to proclaim August 29 as the International Day of against nuclear tests, adopted in December 2009 by a UN General Assembly resolution. He also informed the colleague on the entry into force of the Treaty establishing a Central Asian zone free of nuclear weapons, and on the work implemented by our country on preparation for the 2010 Review Conference dealing with the Non-Proliferation Treaty’s realization aimed at giving it the true efficiency. These initiatives are Kazakhstan’s real contribution in strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime and the practical implementation problems inherent in the CTBT.
Saudabayev noted Kazakhstan supports the development of peaceful nuclear energy under strict control of the international community and, above all, the IAEA. In this regard, we intend to intensify cooperation with the Agency in all areas, including the IAEA technical cooperation program, which makes a significant contribution to solving the most pressing tasks in the sphere of peaceful uses of atomic energy, as well as the implementation of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear and Fuel Cycles.
Today, Kazakhstan is a leader in the production of uranium products. In accordance with the Agreement on the application of safeguards, all nuclear facilities in Kazakhstan are under IAEA supervision, and the entire nuclear activity is carried out in accordance with the rules and standards of the Agency. Our goal is to implement programs to develop higher conversion of nuclear fuel cycle, organization of manufacturing fuel assemblies.
Saudabayev stressed that in line with a consistent policy in the field of nuclear non-proliferation, Kazakhstan has officially sent a request to the IAEA to host the international nuclear fuel bank under IAEA auspices on its territory. This step will be another contribution of our country in cooperation with the Agency for the peaceful development of nuclear energy.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano highly appreciated the contribution of Kazakhstan in the global process of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. He noted that Kazakhstan was one of the most active member states of the Agency, and there are a number of important projects at the moment.
As declared by Yukiya Amano, “Kazakhstan is a very important partner of the IAEA”. The renunciation of nuclear weapons and joining to the NPT as a nonnuclear state was an important historic event that will positively affect the non-proliferation regime. We are satisfied with the level of Kazakhstan's cooperation with the IAEA and are ready for further cooperation, he said.
IAEA Director General expressed his appreciation for the decision taken by our country to host an international nuclear fuel bank on its territory, which is another confirmation of Kazakhstan's commitment to nonproliferation.
Yukiya Amano also thanked Kanat Saudabayev for Kazakhstan’s prompt reaction to information distributed by a number of international mass media concerning the alleged deal between Kazakhstan and Iran on the sale of uranium to that country. According to Mr Amano, the swift reaction from Kazakhstan [who rejected news reports as groundless insinuations] made things clear, and the IAEA will take this position into account in its operations.
Saudabayev extended to the Director General an invitation to visit Kazakhstan at a convenient date which was gladly accepted.
.JPG)
