{"id":84936,"date":"2026-04-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/central-asia-celebrates-20-years-as-a-nuclear-weapon-free-zone\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:00:00","slug":"central-asia-celebrates-20-years-as-a-nuclear-weapon-free-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=84936","title":{"rendered":"Central Asia celebrates 20 years as a nuclear-weapon-free zone"},"content":{"rendered":"


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<\/p>\n

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The accord, which brought together Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, enshrines the voluntary commitment of these States not to develop, acquire, test or deploy nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n

\u201cNuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) are not only historical achievements but also living instruments of regional security, non-proliferation and nuclear risk reduction,\u201d says Christopher King, Chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Branch at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).<\/p>\n

Nations bound together<\/h2>\n

He notes that the Central Asian zone stands as an example of effective regional cooperation, bringing the five countries under a legally binding commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch zones contribute to transparency, confidence-building and risk reduction, and they can help maintain a practical bridge between regional security concerns and global non-proliferation and disarmament architecture,\u201d Mr. King adds.<\/p>\n

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Ashikbayev, who is leading the country\u2019s delegation at the 2026 review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, also believes that its significance extends far beyond the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contribution of the Semipalatinsk Treaty to ensuring security not only in Central Asia but also beyond its borders, is undeniable,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the diplomat, the creation of the zone reflects a shared commitment by the countries of the region to strengthen peace, stability and security, and to overcome the legacy of nuclear testing.<\/p>\n

Commitments questioned<\/h2>\n
\n UN News\/Kulpash Konyrova<\/span>
\n Paintings by Kazakhstani artist and activist Karipbek Kuyukov<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, amid growing geopolitical tensions, some experts question the durability of such agreements. However, Mr. Ashikbayev disagrees. \u201cOn the contrary, in such critical periods the zone demonstrates that its existence is a positive factor,\u201d he argues. Kazakhstan, he added, remains committed to multilateral diplomacy, with the further development of the zone forming part of that policy.<\/p>\n

The Central Asian experience is drawing interest in other regions of the world but, as Ashikbayev pointed out, the establishment of such zones must be a sovereign decision of the States concerned.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the same time, the legacy of the nuclear past continues to be felt today, particularly around the former Semipalatinsk test site, but rehabilitation programmes are under way.<\/p>\n

A modern oncology centre has been established, and parts of previously restricted territories are, following a thorough assessment, gradually being returned to economic use.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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