Saudabayev Holds Series of Meetings with Norwegian and International Politicians and Experts in Non-proliferation

March 5, 2013

OSLO, March 5 – During his visit to Norway, Kanat Saudabayev, Chairman of the Commission on Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Director of the Nazarbayev Center, held a series of bilateral meetings with Norwegian and international politicians and experts in the sphere of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Kanat Saudabayev met Vice President of the Storting (Parliament) of Norway Marit Nybakk, Global Coordinator of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) Alyn Ware, and famous American actor and nuclear disarmament movement activist Martin Sheen.

The parties discussed the state and prospects of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Norway, and international organizations, particularly in the key field of non-proliferation and reduction of the nuclear threat.

“I deeply respect Kazakhstan for its sustainable contribution to nuclear disarmament,” noted Nybakk, who co-president of PNND. In her opinion, it is necessary to further develop and strengthen cooperation between Norway and Kazakhstan in this sphere of bilateral cooperation of the two countries, including in the international format.

Nybakk underlined the importance and fruitfulness of a February 2013 visit of the Kazakh delegation headed by the Chair of the National Commission for Women, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan Gulshara Abdykalikova, during which the sides discussed issues of gender and equality policies in the two countries. In his turn, Kanat Saudabayev pointed out that the establishment of equal opportunities for self-fulfillment in all social spheres, regardless of gender, is an important direction of public policy of modern Kazakhstan.

During the meeting of the Nazarbayev Center director with Alyn Ware practical aspects of cooperation between Kazakhstan and PNND were discussed. In August 2012, the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, the Nazarbayev Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in cooperation with PNND organized an international conference “From a nuclear test ban to a nuclear weapons free world.” The two sides discussed plans for further promotion of the international initiatives of the President of Kazakhstan, such as the Universal Declaration of a Nuclear Weapons Free World and the ATOM Project, noting in this regard the importance of the International Day against Nuclear Tests, established by the UN and commemorated every year on August 29.

During their conversation, Kanat Saudabayev and Martin Sheen emphasized the importance of further expansion of the global efforts aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in the world. Director of the Nazarbayev Center invited Martin Sheen to visit Kazakhstan and personally familiarize with our country’s experience in nuclear disarmament. Martin Sheen, known, among other things, as “U.S. President Jed Bartlet” from “The West Wing” series noted the importance of Kazakhstan’s contribution to the reduction of the nuclear threat and expressed his intention to strengthen and develop cooperation in this field.
Later on the same day, Kazakhstan’s delegation met Director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Ulf Sverdrup, co-president of PNND, Member of the Scottish Parliament Bill Kidd and others.

In a conversation with Ulf Sverdrup, referring to the similarity of objectives and priorities of the two institutions, such as conducting research on international political and economic issues, the parties noted the great potential for cooperation in this field.

In his turn, Bill Kidd, who has visited Kazakhstan before, highlighted the importance of the example the republic has shown in nuclear disarmament for the global efforts aimed at reducing the nuclear weapons and the need to more widely promote the practical disarmament experience of our country to the international community.

After viewing the works of Honorary Ambassador of the ATOM Project Karipbek Kuyukov, Bill Kidd stressed that “his paintings, such as the “First explosion,at clearly express the thought: nuclear weapons are horrible and the mankind must find the strength to get rid of them.”

The Nazarbayev Center was established by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on January 23, 2012 as a multifunctional scientific, analytical, humanitarian and educational state institution. The Center is designed as the premier presidential center of its kind, aimed at advancing world peace and development through humanitarian engagement and cutting-edge research, education, and awareness initiatives. The Center is located in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Visit www.nazarbayevcenter.kz for more information.

The ATOM Project is an international campaign designed to unify global public opinion against nuclear weapons testing that features the tragic stories of survivors of the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing site in the Eastern Kazakhstan. The survivors and their descendants continue to suffer from diseases caused by exposure of nuclear radiation.

The ATOM Project is implemented by The Nazarbayev Center.
Visit www.theatomproject.org for more information.

Contacts:
ArturAbubakirov, mobile phone + 77019336752, artur84kz@yahoo.com
NadezhdaKhamitova, mobile phone + 77016129936, nadezhda.khamitova@gmail.com