DYB2011-Part-II-web

Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
event organized by the EastWest Institute and the Global Security Institute
on the occasion of United Nations Day, 24 October. He also sent messages
to the fifty-ninth Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs, the
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, the World Conference against Atomic
and Hydrogen Bombs, and meetings organized in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and
Tokyo by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs to launch
a signature campaign to start negotiations for a convention banning nuclear
weapons.
Government and intergovernmental initiatives
During the year, non-nuclear-weapon States continued to seek new
and innovative ways to advance nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
objectives, to seek the implementation of the actions agreed to at the 2010
Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and to promote the consideration of a nuclear
weapons convention.
Nuclear Discussion Forum and the Astana International Forum for
a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World
Following its recent efforts in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation,
including the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Kazakhstan, together
with the EastWest Institute, hosted a Nuclear Discussion Forum, with a series
of five discussions held between February and July. 92 Participants included
members of the New York-based diplomatic and policymaking community,
and involved representatives from nuclear-weapon States, non-nuclearweapon
States and international organizations, and non-governmental experts.
These meetings focused on, inter alia: concluding a legally binding document
to provide negative security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States; nuclear
weapons and international law, including international humanitarian law;
and building transparency and promoting confidence-building measures in
ongoing disarmament discussions. 93
From 12 to 13 October, Kazakhstan hosted the International Forum
for a Nuclear Weapon-Free World in Astana and adopted a Declaration on
a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World. 94 The Declaration sought to reinforce the
message that all States that possess nuclear weapons should pursue steps
towards the total elimination of these weapons at the earliest possible time.
It encouraged negotiations on further steps leading to nuclear disarmament
92 The five discussions were held on 30 March, 29 April, 2 June, 30 June and 28 July in New
York.
93 The work of the Forum was facilitated by a core group of countries, comprised of Austria,
Costa Rica, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Uruguay.
94 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “Declaration on a Nuclear-
Weapon-Free World: Astana, October 12, 2011”. Available from http://portal.mfa.kz/
portal/page/portal/mfa/en/content/news/nws2011/2011-10-12 (accessed 10 May 2012).
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