Statement of Kazakhstan at the UNGA72

WMDs: “No one can ignore tough realities on the ground - lack of trust and unity, global and regional inequality and injustice, poverty, xenophobia, conflicts, terrorism and extremism, as well as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Nuclear Weapons: “When we speak of opportunities unfolded by global modernization, we need to bear in mind the dangers that p~event all of us from realizing our potential. In our inter-dependent and connected world, nuclear weapons are  no longer an asset but a danger. It is with moral authority and responsibility emanating from my nation's bitter experience of the hundreds of nuclear tests my President states that eliminating the nuclear danger is the most urgent task of humanity in 21 century. It includes a whole range of important and urgent steps - a complete ban on nuclear testing, the total prohibition of nuclear weapons and complete and verifiable destruction of nuclear arsenals.”

DPRK: “We are deeply concerned by the nuclear tests conducted by the DPRK ­ the only state in the 21st century continuing such tests despite condemnation from the entire international community. I want to specifically stress that the DPRK's actions to further develop its nuclear and missile programs are totally unacceptable and Pyongyang must undertake serious steps to restore trust and re-commit a much needed political settlement.”

Nuclear tests: “In 2009 the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted its resolution designating August 29 - the day the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site was officially closed in 1991 by the Decree of President Nazarbayev - as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. This day has been widely commemorated in Kazakhstan and in the UN from 2010 onwards. This year was also marked by several important events of international significance. [...] From August 25 to 29 Astana hosted the Conference of the Pugwash Movement of Scientists to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Movement and International Day Against Nuclear Tests, where hundreds of scholars, practitioners and officials from around 50 countries gathered to seek ways of achieving a nuclear-weapons-free world.”

Nuclear Energy: “The same day, my President and IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano opened the IAEA Low Enriched Uranium Bank Facility in Kazakhstan, with a view to making a significant contribution to the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and strengthening the global nonproliferation regime.”

Nuclear Weapons: “First, to convene a summit of all states possessing nuclear weapons to collectively discuss further steps towards their nuclear disarmament and attaining nuclear-weapon-free world. Second, to enhance the role of the nuclear weapon free zones as effective instruments to end further nuclear proliferation and to combine efforts of states-members of such zones at the meeting of all nuclear weapons-free zones in Astana. Third, to renew the process of global nuclear security summits and to host the first recommenced nuclear security summit in Astana. And fourth, to call for joint efforts to ensure that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force by 2020 - this is the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons entering into force.”

Syria: “Kazakhstan is hosting the Astana process on Syria to contribute to the peaceful settlement in Syria and promote UN-led negotiations in Geneva. We believe that the Astana Process, which commenced earlier this year with the support and direct involvement of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, has brought obvious positive results aimed at strengthening the ceasefire regime, creation of the de-escalation zones and developing monitoring mechanism.”

Israel/Palestine: “Kazakhstan has a clear and consistent position on the Middle East Peace Process, based on the two-state solution approach: a sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side in peace with Israel.”

De-militarisation: “Earlier this year I presented President Nazarbayev's Policy Address to the Security Council. The seven priorities of this document called to ensure humanity's survival through a world free of nuclear weapons by 2045; the prevention and end to military confrontations at regional and global levels; generating a model for a regional zone of peace, security, cooperation and development in Central Asia.”