The ATOM Project Presented at The United Nations

September 5, 2013

On Sept. 4, 2013, at the United Nations headquarters in New York within the framework of celebrating the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in cooperation with the UN Department of Public Information organized a presentation of The ATOM Project and an exhibition of the artwork of its Honorary Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov.

The former head of the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations, Kazakhstan Parliament Senator Byrganym Aitimova, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko, project ambassador Kuyukov, heads of leading international organizations, including UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane, Under Secretary General – Director of the UN Department of Public Information Peter Lansky, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Lassina Zerbo, as well as international experts in the field of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, representatives of diplomatic missions to the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations attended the event.

Opening the event, Senator Aitimova discussed Kazakhstan’s contribution to the world nuclear disarmament process, The ATOM Project and introduced its Honorary Ambassador Karipbek Kuyukov.

The Senator noted that the physical limitations of Karipbek, who was born without arms, failed to break the power of his spirit and today he fights tirelessly to end nuclear testing worldwide.

“Today’s exhibition is unique not only because of the message it brings, but the life of the artist himself and all that he stands for,” Ambassador Aitimova said.

Angela Kane, addressing guests of the exhibition, emphasized Kuyukov’s willpower and said the art works of the Honorary Ambassador of The ATOM Project represent the triumph of the human spirit.

“He has not only conquered severe physical hardships, he is also winning the hearts and minds of people around the world,” Kane noted. Kane also praised the decision of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev to close the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site in 1991 and said that this decision paved the way for negotiations on the CTBTO.

Zerbo noted in his remarks that Kazakhstan could not be a better ambassador in the area of non-proliferation and disarmament.

“However, with all the work done, there is still a long way to go in order to come to a world free of nuclear weapons,” Zerbo concluded.

Addressing the audience, Kuyukov once again reminded the world of the tragic consequences of nuclear testing and, under The ATOM Project, called on the global community to act more forcefully to permanently and irrevocably ban nuclear weapons tests.

Karipbek’s works, painted with his mouth and toes, portray both the terrible consequences of nuclear tests and his love for humanity.

“My new paintings represent portraits of those who suffered from nuclear testing. I want you to look into their eyes and see all the pain they have to bear every day. My mission is to show all the people in the world their pain and suffering in order to make us the last generation of nuclear weapons victims,” Kuykov said, eliciting long applause from the audience.

The exhibition had a strong impact on participants who agreed on the importance of Kazakhstan’s initiatives in the field of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and the need to implement them in order to maintain global stability and reach a world without nuclear weapons. Participants at the exhibition could also sign the project’s online petition calling on all governments to end nuclear weapons testing and to take the necessary steps towards establishing a nuclear-weapons-free world.

The ATOM Project is an international campaign to raise public awareness about the human and environmental dangers and consequences of nuclear weapons testing.

The project was initiated by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Navarbayev on Aug. 29, 2012 during an international conference in Astana.