New York, 1 May 2026 – On the margins of the Eleventh Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, Kairat Umarov, met with the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

During the meeting, issues related to nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and the humanitarian consequences of the use of nuclear weapons were discussed, as well as the role of cities in preserving historical memory and promoting a culture of peace.

The parties noted the symbolic significance of the current period: the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2025) and the 35th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (2026), emphasizing that this historical experience remains relevant and continues to have a long-term impact on present-day generations. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Semey were identified as symbols of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon use.

Kazakhstan reaffirmed its consistent commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons, underscoring the significance of its voluntary renunciation of the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal as a practical contribution to global disarmament. The importance of nuclear-weapon-free zones, including the strengthening of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, was highlighted, as well as the need to complete the ratification of the protocols on negative security assurances. Kazakhstan also provided an update on its work under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, including efforts to advance the establishment of an International Trust Fund for victim assistance and environmental remediation.

The parties underscored the role of the Mayors for Peace network, which brings together over 8,000 cities from more than 160 countries, as an important platform for promoting a humanitarian approach to disarmament. It was noted that Kazakhstan is represented in the network by a number of cities.

The Mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, who serves as President of the network, emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory and the non-political nature of its activities aimed at fostering a culture of peace. The Mayor of Nagasaki, Shiro Suzuki, highlighted the comparability of the consequences of nuclear testing with the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including that of Kazakhstan, and stressed the need to expand cooperation among cities and to further disseminate knowledge about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their interest in further developing cooperation, including expanding interaction among cities in such areas as nuclear safety, radiation monitoring, public health, and science.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-kazakhstanun/press/news/details/1215959?lang=kk