Advertisement

  • News
  • Columns
  • Interviews
  • BW Communities
  • Events
  • BW TV
  • Subscribe to Print
BW Businessworld

Closure of nuclear test site reduces threat to international community: Kazakh President

Closure of nuclear test site reduces threat to international community: Kazakh President

Photo Credit :

Nur-Sultan [Kazakhstan], Aug 30 (ANI/Xinhua): Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Saturday (local time) that denuclearising the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site has largely reduced the threat of nuclear proliferation to the international community.
Semipalatinsk was the primary testing venue for the Soviet Union's nuclear weapons, with over 450 tests carried out since 1949. On August 29, 1991, then-Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed an executive order to shut down the site.
Tokayev said the Semipalatinsk site near northeastern Kazakhstan's Semey city had caused intensive radioactive contamination of the surrounding areas of 300,000 square kilometres, with more than 500,000 people exposed to direct radiation.
After the closure of the test site, the Kazakh government has prioritised the social rehabilitation and long-term safety of the area, said Tokayev, adding that a comprehensive environmental survey covering 18,500 square kilometres will be completed next year.
In 2009, the UN General Assembly declared August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. (ANI/Xinhua)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house. Unless otherwise noted, the author is writing in his/her personal capacity. They are not intended and should not be thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency or institution.


ANI

ANI

More From The Author >>