Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan to UNESCO and other international organisations in Paris (French Republic)

Joint Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty

Joint Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty (September 8, 2026) 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 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, convincedthat 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, we hereby declare the following: 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. 5. We firmly advocate for the necessity of the earliest entry-into-force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) which will mark exactly thirty years since its opening for signature on 24 September 2026. In this regard, we emphasize the need to preserve and further strengthen the international norm against nuclear testing and call for refraining from any actions that could undermine this norm. We emphasize the important role of raising awareness on disarmament and non-proliferation in fostering a culture of peace, trust and responsibility, and note the particular importance of involving the youth in discussions on disarmament and international security. We support the continued promotion of the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness, initiated by the Kyrgyz Republic and symbolically observed annually on 5 March – the date the NPT entered into force – as well as related regional educational initiatives. In this regard, we note the relevance of the recommendations contained in the UN Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, as well as the UN Secretary-General’s Agenda for Disarmament, “Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament.” 6. We welcome the signing on 6 May 2014 by the nuclear-weapon States of the Protocol on Negative Security Assurances to the Treaty on the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and its ratification by four nuclear-weapon states, and we express our hope for the earliest completion of the ratification process for the Protocol by the United States of America. 7. We express our interest in the institutional development of the CANWFZ Treaty and in expanding further partnerships with existing nuclear-weapon-free zones with the aim of strengthening the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and uniting international efforts to ensure peace and security. In this context, we welcome the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with the African Commission on Atomic Energy (AFCONE) and the Organization for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL), as well as the holding in Astana on August 28–29, 2024, under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, of the second meeting of representatives of all existing nuclear-weapon-free zones. 8. We note the great importance of strengthening regional security as a key factor for sustainable development and stability in Central Asia, and we reaffirm our intention to continue to cooperate closely in addressing common challenges and threats. 9. We support efforts to establish new nuclear-weapon-free zones in regions where they do not currently exist, including in the Middle East. 10. We welcome the adoption of the resolution “Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia” at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly as well as the holding, of an anniversary meeting of the Treaty’s participating States in Ashgabat on 5 December 2024, under Turkmenistan’s chairmanship, with the participation of representatives of other existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and international organizations.

Article by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermek Kosherbayev