Central Asian States Reaffirm Commitment to Nuclear Non-Proliferation on 20th Anniversary of CANWFZ Treaty

Astana, The Gulf Observer: The Foreign Ministers of the five Central Asian states have reaffirmed their commitment to nuclear non-proliferation, disarmament and regional security on the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (CANWFZ).

The Treaty was signed on September 8, 2006, in the Kazakh city of Semipalatinsk. To commemorate the milestone, the Foreign Ministers of the States Parties adopted a Joint Statement reaffirming their commitment to the objectives and principles of the landmark agreement.

The Ministers underscored the significance of the CANWFZ Treaty, which established the first and only nuclear-weapon-free zone located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and bordering two nuclear-weapon states.

They noted that the Treaty has played an important role in strengthening the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, enhancing regional and international security, and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Joint Statement also addresses key issues on the international disarmament agenda, including the outcomes of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the status of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and the ratification of the Protocol on Negative Security Assurances.

The Foreign Ministers further discussed prospects for cooperation with other existing and emerging nuclear-weapon-free zones, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to advance global nuclear disarmament.

The document reaffirms the unity of the Central Asian states on regional security matters and highlights their continued contribution to international efforts aimed at achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.