Kazakhstan Chairs Successful TPNW Conference, Enhancing Nuclear Disarmament Efforts
The Third Conference of States Parties to the TPNW, chaired by Kazakhstan, concluded with key agreements focused on nuclear disarmament, including the establishment of an International Trust Fund for victims. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to disarmament and condemned nuclear threats, praising Kazakhstan’s leadership in promoting global security. The conference showcased important thematic events and exhibited personal narratives from nuclear testing survivors.
The Third Conference of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), chaired by Kazakhstan, concluded on March 7 at UN headquarters. Under Kazakhstan’s presidency, the conference facilitated constructive dialogue, culminating in consensus on pivotal documents aimed at enhancing treaty implementation.
Participants reaffirmed a global commitment to nuclear disarmament, adopting a Political Declaration that condemned nuclear threats and highlighted severe humanitarian and environmental consequences associated with nuclear weapons.
First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akan Rakhmetullin, underscored the urgent need for nuclear disarmament, referencing the historical devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the nuclear tests conducted at the Semipalatinsk Test Site. He asserted, “the elimination of nuclear weapons is not a matter of the distant future but a practical and urgent task.”
A significant outcome was the endorsement of a proposal to create an International Trust Fund, co-sponsored by Kazakhstan and Kiribati. This initiative will support victims of nuclear weapons use and testing, in addition to facilitating the environmental rehabilitation of affected areas. Delegates committed to finalizing the fund’s framework by mid-2026, with a planned launch at the upcoming TPNW Review Conference.
The conference participants also resolved to enhance the number of TPNW states parties and strengthen collaboration with parliaments, scientific institutions, and civil society to advance disarmament initiatives. Kazakhstan’s leadership and dedication to nuclear disarmament were praised by the delegates, who recognized the nation’s consistent foreign policy under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as an asset in promoting global security.
The conference showcased thematic events and exhibitions promoting nuclear disarmament, including Kazakhstan’s side event titled, “Semipalatinsk Test Site: The Cost of Nuclear Weapons – A Warning to the World,” featuring contributions from various organizations. This was complemented by the “Echoes of the Polygon” exhibition and the documentary film “I Want to Live On,” which shared personal narratives from survivors of nuclear testing.
Kazakhstan’s decisive leadership at this conference reinforced its prominent role in the global movement against nuclear arms. As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Kazakhstan’s adept presidency has solidified its position as a middle power with an independent foreign policy focused on balance and effectiveness in global security efforts.
The TPNW, adopted in 2017 and effective from 2021, represents the first legally binding international framework aimed at achieving the complete eradication of nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan’s decision to renounce its substantial nuclear arsenal and close the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site exemplifies its commitment as a leader in the anti-nuclear movement.
In summary, the Third Conference of States Parties to the TPNW concluded successfully, with key agreements to advance nuclear disarmament initiatives. Kazakhstan’s leadership was instrumental in fostering dialogue, as evidenced by the establishment of an International Trust Fund and a renewed commitment from states to strengthen cooperation toward disarmament. This conference not only reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s pivotal role in the anti-nuclear movement but also emphasized the urgent need for global action against nuclear threats.
Original Source: astanatimes.com
