On December 11, 2018, Kazakhstan Celebrated its 27th Anniversary in New York City
“Our earnest desire to build a world without conflict, terrorism, and nuclear weapons, and we set the target date as 2045 – the UN’s centennial.”
— H.E. Kairat Umarov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations
“The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty has an essential role within the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. It fosters international peace and security by constraining the development of nuclear weapons. Our collective security demands that every effort should be made to bring this essential treaty into force.” — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
“The only sure way to eliminate the threat posed by nuclear weapons is to eliminate the weapons themselves.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres
by Bircan Ünver, Head
NGO Representative to the United Nations Department of Public Information
The Light Millennium
Sometimes we may think that we know a country simply based on its name which might have connotations based on what we have read or heard about it over the years.
My main interest in Kazakhstan as a nation actually did not develop because it is the 9th largest country in the world, therefore the largest Turkic country. There is more to it than that such as not the size or cultural background but its core domestic and international policies in connection with peace, global security, food security, cultural diversity, total elimination of nuclear weapons, a world free conflict and terrorism…
Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations’ all forms of organized events, led resolutions and run campaigns over the years, in particular, in connection with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The Mission of Kazakhstan has been the leading of it as an annual base event or High-Level Forum on the CTBT at the United Nations on the International Day Against Nuclear Test (Resolution# A/64/391) adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2009. It states the following:
“1. Declares 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests, devoted to enhancing public awareness and education about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world;
2. Invites the Member States, the United Nations system, civil society, academia, the mass media and individuals to commemorate the International Day against Nuclear Tests in an appropriate manner, including through all means of educational and public awareness-raising activities.
— 55th plenary meeting 2 December 2009″
Source: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/64/35
In connection with the “Global Nuclear Disarmament” goal of the United Nations, Kazakhstan also has been the leading country on both, regional and global levels towards the “Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons”, which goal has also been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution (#A/RES/68/32). Its background goes back to 1952, which states:
“Achieving global nuclear disarmament is one of the oldest goals of the United Nations. It was the subject of the General Assembly’s first resolution in 1946, which established the Atomic Energy Commission, which was dissolved in 1952, with a mandate to make specific proposals for the control of nuclear energy and the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction. The United Nations has been at the forefront of many major diplomatic efforts to advance nuclear disarmament since then. In 1959, the General Assembly endorsed the objective of general and complete disarmament. In 1978, the first Special Session of the General Assembly Devoted to Disarmament further recognized that nuclear disarmament should be the priority objective in the field of disarmament. Every United Nations Secretary-General has actively promoted this goal.”
Source: http://www.un.org/en/events/nuclearweaponelimination/
UNGA’s related Resolution on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (#A/RES/68/32) in item# 7 declares the following:
“Declares 26 September as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons devoted to furthering this objective, including through enhancing public awareness and education about the threat posed to humanity by nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination, in order to mobilize international efforts towards achieving the common goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.”
I applied through the UN System and had given an opportunity to attend the High-Level Forum on the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on the declared date September 26, during the UN General Assembly Sessions both in 2016 and 2018.
Most people are not aware that the United Nations provides many opportunities such as art and photo exhibits, special film/documentary screenings, book discussions, concerts, musical or art performances along with High-Level Forums, panels, symposiums, regular meetings, conferences, Briefings, side events and many more in numerous forms such as anniversary celebrations, openings and/or UN Days related programs.
In particular, in connection with Kazakhstan’s Campaign at the United Nations for the Security Council as a Temporary Member State in 2016, provided several unique opportunities and information to the UN community at large including 25 Milestones of Independence of Kazakhstan for its 25th Anniversary.
Its leading role on CTBT and Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in the region and at the United Nations along within overarching concept such as “Global Security and Peace”, “Food Security”, “Energy Security” and “World Free of Terrorism”, these have been in the top agendas, program and activities of the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan at the UN.
As it is defined the Third Pillar of the UN is the Non-Governmental Organizations, and as a member of the UN.DPI/NGO Family, we have opportunities to participate and follow up such event and programs. Based on my own experience, the United Nations has been, the most effective and enhancing life-long school for me. Because, there is always something new to learn on a daily base that you may never have known or been aware of before. This endless source of information through multiple channels instantly opens up the mind to understand national and regional matters better from each Member State stand point of the UN–in this case Kazakhstan–that contributes to enhancing the general knowledge on the daily basis in a wider-spectrum and multiple dimension through gathered information and observations.
As the 9th largest country in the world in terms of land-size along with the stepping stone to the International Space Agency in Baikonur, Kazakhstan gives the utmost importance to Global Security, Food Security, Water Security, Education, Space, Arts-Culture, and Cultural Diversity as the backbone of its national and international policies. All together, it has been very inspirational and hopeful. In particular, effectively and impactfully bringing all these issues on the top level of the UN Agenda, and regularly campaigning on these, indeed, in terms of the NGOs and Global Community at large, that gives us trust in the UN Vision and Programs along with hope and inspiration for the future generations.
With the above-provided background, I attended the Reception “On the occasion of the 27th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the End of the Non-permanent Membership of Kazakhstan at the United Nations Security Council” in New York City on December 11, 2018. In this context, I offer sincere thanks for the initial invitation to the Reception through Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations H.E. Mr. Kairat Umarov and Mrs. Aigerim Umarov.
The Reception was well attended, in particular, on the Ambassadorial level, UN Staff and Media along with some invited NGO representatives.
“We do wish that others should not suffer the fate that 1.6 million Kazakhs did.”
Excerpts from the Welcoming Speech of H.E. Mr. Umarov as follow:
- “We were guided and inspired by the seven verifiable and balanced priorities, which were outlined by my President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the beginning of our term, based on three pillars of the UN’s work. We are happy to share with you that we have accomplished them on 150%.
- We strove for disarmament and non-proliferation, working towards a world free of nuclear weapons for we do wish that others should not suffer the fate that 1.6 million Kazakhs did.
- We have advocated for building confidence and trust as the basis for conflict prevention and resolution. It is also our earnest desire to build a world without conflict, terrorism and nuclear weapons, and we set the target date as 2045 – the UN’s centennial.
- We put the spotlight on strengthening cooperation in Central Asia with Afghanistan integrated into it, through security and political diplomacy, investments in development. We hope to make this region as a model to be replicated elsewhere in the world.
- Along with counter-terrorism being a major focus of our Chairmanship at the Security Council’s sanctions Committees 1267 and 1988, we launched in September 2018 the Code of Conduct for achieving a world free of terrorism, which I am proud to say has been signed by 80 countries already, as a coalition to fight terrorism, and the number is growing.
- Leaving the Council, we left our legacy in the form of flag installation ceremony for incoming members”.
Based on the above provided excerpts, Kazakhstan NOT only has left a legacy at the UN Security Council but also has successfully seeded of Kazakhstan’s Global Agenda on the “Total Elimination of the Nuclear Weapons” towards “Global Security and Peace”, which is the most needed for the sustainability of humankind and the planet Earth at large. In particular, targeting for the “Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons” by 2045 at the Centennial of the United Nations, indeed, gives utmost importance and hope to be attained by 2045!
– . –
Brief History of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)
The Conference on Disarmament (CD) began its substantive negotiations on a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty in January 1994 within the framework of an Ad Hoc Committee established for that purpose. Although the CD had long been involved with the issue of a test-ban, only in 1982 did it establish a subsidiary body on the item. Disagreement over a mandate for that body blocked tangible progress for years.
– For more information: https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/ctbt/
– Status of the Ratification:
https://www.ctbto.org/the-treaty/status-of-signature-and-ratification/
Related:
Article of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev “Seven Facets of the Great Steppe”
http://mfa.gov.kz/en/stockholm/content-view/article-of-the-president-of-the-republic-of-kazakhstan-nursultan-nazarbayev-seven-facets-of-the-great-steppe-3
Special Thanks to: Bauyrzhan Kerimkulov
Alternate Political Coordinator/First secretary
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations
“EDUCATING YOUNGER GENERATIONS ON GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP THROUGH INTERCULTURAL LITERACY”
#UNSC on the African Union Mission – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID)
Related through Lightmillennium.Org:
2016: “Kazakhstan: Building a Nuclear Safe World”
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE” KAZAKHSTAN – Land of the Great Steppe
Foto Albums through Lightmillennium.Org:
AS IF BEING IN THE FUTURE: ASTANA
2018 – ASTANA BALLET GALA at Lincoln Center
26th INDEPENDENCE DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
EXPO2017ASTANA – MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
2016 UN HL Informal International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
2016 – KAZAKHSTAN: 25 MILESTONES OF INDEPENDENCE
2016 -KAZAKHSTAN: UNITED FOR GLOBAL SECURITY – UN Photo Exhibit
– Posted on December 15, 2018.
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