Central Asian States Reaffirm Commitment to Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at High-Level Meeting in Turkmenistan
Ashgabat, The Gulf Observer: A high-level regional meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, bringing together senior diplomats and international officials to reaffirm support for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Dr. Robert Floyd, and the heads of the diplomatic missions of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Opening the event, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Myahri Bashimova, emphasized that the CTBT has established a strong international norm against nuclear testing, strengthened trust among nations and made a significant contribution to global stability over the past three decades.
She reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to international initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security and confidence-building measures, while supporting continued efforts in disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Dr. Floyd expressed appreciation for Turkmenistan’s steadfast support for the principles of peace, security and multilateral cooperation. He highlighted the important contribution of Central Asian countries to advancing the global agenda on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, describing the CTBT as one of the international community’s most significant achievements in the pursuit of a world free of nuclear weapons.
Participants underscored the historical significance of the Treaty and its role in strengthening international peace and security. They noted that the CTBT has become a cornerstone of the global arms control framework and has played a vital role in reinforcing the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
During the discussions, Dr. Floyd also highlighted the importance of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia as a key regional instrument supporting international disarmament objectives.
The meeting provided an opportunity for an exchange of views on advancing the goals and principles of the CTBT, enhancing regional and international cooperation in disarmament, and raising global awareness of the importance of the Treaty’s early entry into force.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to promote sustainable peace, security and stability at both regional and global levels.
