The leading nuclear-weapon states should be the first to set an example in nuclear arms reduction, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said during a meeting with the heads of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in the republic.
"Speaking about the reduction of nuclear weapons tests, non-possession of nuclear weapons, which is correct at a time when the world is gripped by terrorism, the nuclear-weapon countries, the ‘nuclear five’ should set an example in this matter," he said. "Otherwise, it may turn out that we will possess and upgrade them, while prohibiting others. That would be wrong," the head of state added.
Nazarbayev pointed out that otherwise "the 20 nuclear threshold states would want to have nuclear weapons to defend their countries", calling this "a very dangerous trend". "I think all nations of the world should be united to work together in this direction," he stressed.
The President drew attention to the fact that Kazakhstan "consistently contributes to strengthening the non-proliferation regime", adding that the country supported the international negotiation process on Iran’s nuclear program making a practical contribution to it, including to the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action.
"In 2016, the world will mark the 25th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, the 10th anniversary of the free trade agreement in Central Asia and the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. These historical dates are an important occasion for pooling the efforts of all countries to promote a nuclear-free world," TASS cited him as saying.
