We, the Foreign Ministers of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (hereinafter referred to as the “CANWFZ Treaty”), on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the CANWFZ Treaty in Semipalatinsk Participation in the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty as of November 2008.
Photo credit: Wikipedia reaffirming our commitment to humanity’s common goal of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, and recognizing the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use or testing of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones is one of the most powerful universal tools for preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and strengthening the global disarmament process, noting the importance of the Treaty between the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, and Cooperation for Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century in strengthening peace and security in the region, recalling that the idea of establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia was first proposed by the Republic of Uzbekistan in September 1993 at the 48th session of the UN General Assembly, convinced that the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Central Asia represents a successful example of the consolidation of efforts by the countries of the region, and emphasizing that this was an important step toward strengthening the nuclear nonproliferation regime and the process of nuclear disarmament, regional and international peace and security, as well as the development of cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the environmental rehabilitation of areas affected by radioactive contamination, welcoming the thirty-fifth anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and the thirtieth anniversary of the opening for signature of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and paying tribute to the memory of the numerous victims of nuclear explosions and their consequences in all regions of the world, 1.
We reaffirm our commitment to the historically significant CANWFZ Treaty, signed by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on 8 September 2006, in Semipalatinsk. As the result of collective efforts of all five Central Asian states in their aspiration to ensure security, stability and peace in the region, and as it remains the first and only such zone located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and directly bordering two nuclear-weapon States, the Semipalatinsk Treaty continues to play an important role in strengthening the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime and serves as a symbolic example of Central Asia’s transformation from a region where nuclear weapons were once actively tested and deployed into one of the leaders of global efforts toward nuclear disarmament.
2. We reaffirm the key role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as the cornerstone of international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and, ultimately, to achieve their complete elimination. In this regard, we regret that the Eleventh Review Conference of the States Parties to the NPT concluded without adopting substantive outcomes, reflecting continuing differences and a lack of trust in the field of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
We call on all NPT parties to continue negotiations in good faith on the effective implementation of obligations under all three interrelated and mutually reinforcing pillars – nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 3. In light of the urgent and unprecedented challenges threatening global security and stability, we express serious concern over the lack of substantial progress in the field of nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article 6 of the NPT, as well as the cessation of key arms control agreements, coupled with an alarming trend toward the modernization of nuclear arsenals.
At the same time, we note the special responsibility of nuclear-weapon States to engage in negotiations on nuclear disarmament and call for the urgent development of new, verifiable arms control mechanisms to prevent a nuclear arms race. 4. We affirm our unwavering support for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in implementing the provisions of the NPT, promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and applying safeguards and monitoring of nuclear programs in the Agency’s member states.