Foreign ministers from the five Central Asian states issued a joint statement marking the 20th anniversary of the treaty establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region.
The statement commemorates the Treaty of Semipalatinsk, signed on September 8, 2006, in the city of Semipalatinsk by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons, stressing that any use or testing of nuclear weapons could have catastrophic humanitarian consequences.
The statement noted that the Treaty of Semipalatinsk remains an important instrument for international efforts to build trust, ensure regional stability and prevent nuclear proliferation.
Central Asia remains the only nuclear-free zone in the Northern Hemisphere
According to a statement released by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the establishment of the nuclear-weapon-free zone was one of the region's most significant steps in the field of international security.
The foreign ministers described the Treaty of Semipalatinsk as a unique example of cooperation among the five states in uniting their efforts to strengthen peace and stability.
Central Asia became the first and only nuclear-weapon-free zone located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and bordering two nuclear-armed states. A region once associated with nuclear testing and weapons deployment is now a participant in global nuclear disarmament initiatives.
The statement placed particular emphasis on the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and the need to preserve the memory of nuclear test victims worldwide.
The Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site was established in 1948 on Kazakh territory to test the Soviet Union's first nuclear weapon. Covering roughly 18,500 square kilometers across East Kazakhstan, Karaganda and Pavlodar provinces, the site hosted 456 nuclear tests between 1949 and 1989, including 116 atmospheric and 340 underground explosions.
Various estimates suggest the tests affected the health of more than 1.5 million people. The last explosion at the site took place on October 19, 1989, and the facility was permanently closed on August 29, 1991, by decree of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Countries call for accelerated nuclear disarmament
The foreign ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, calling it the cornerstone of the international nonproliferation system.
At the same time, they expressed concern over the lack of meaningful progress on nuclear disarmament commitments and rising tensions in the field of international security.
The statement called for resuming negotiations on nuclear arms reduction and establishing new mechanisms to monitor compliance.
The Central Asian states also urged nuclear-armed states to fulfill their particular responsibilities on disarmament.
The ministers voiced support for the swift entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. They stressed the need to uphold the international norm against nuclear testing and called on states to refrain from actions that could undermine that principle.
For peaceful atomic use
The foreign ministers reaffirmed their support for the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its role in overseeing states' nuclear programs. They stressed that the development of nuclear energy must be carried out solely for peaceful purposes and in compliance with international security safeguards.
The statement noted that the Central Asian states are interested in further developing cooperation with other regions that have established nuclear-weapon-free zones.
