Astana, August 29, 2025 – On the occasion of the International Day against Nuclear Tests, a meeting devoted to the global prohibition of nuclear testing, nuclear disarmament and security assurances for nuclear-weapon-free states was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana.

The event was conducted in teleconference format with participation by representatives of states that are secretariats of nuclear-weapon-free zones, international organizations and ambassadors of states party to nuclear-weapon-free zones. Observers from the “nuclear five” (P5) states – UK, China, Russia, US, and France also took part in the meeting.

Participants heard video messages from the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Izumi Nakamitsu, and the Secretary-General of the Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), Flavio Bonzanini.

In his address, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Akan Rakhmetullin, emphasized the importance of promptly completing the procedures for entry into force of protocols on negative security assurances to the nuclear-weapon-free zones, including the Semipalatinsk Treaty, which have not been fully ratified by all nuclear-weapon states.

Participants exchanged views on strengthening the status of nuclear-weapon-free zones as an important condition for achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world and global security.

The International Day against Nuclear Tests is observed annually on 29 August (the date of the closure of the Semipalatinsk test site) pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly resolution. Commemorative events take place both in Kazakhstan and abroad, including at key multilateral diplomatic venues (New York, Vienna, Geneva), as well as in other countries worldwide.

At present, nuclear-weapon-free zones have been established in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Central Asia. Mongolia is also the only country in the world with a unique nuclear-weapon-free status. Key elements of each zone include Protocols on negative security assurances, under which members of the “nuclear five” undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against members of those zones.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/1059567?lang=kk