Kyrgyzstan joins NPT Review Conference in New York

Bishkek, Aug. 2, 2022. /Kabar/. The Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) began its work in New York City, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Delegations from more than 100 states, as well as heads of international organizations, including UN Secretary General António Guterres and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi are attending the conference. Kyrgyzstan's delegation to the conference is headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Dinara Kemelova. In her presentation during the high-level segment, Kemelova informed the Conference participants about the efforts undertaken by Kyrgyzstan as chair of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (NWFZ), in particular to develop cooperation with other nuclear-free zones and to accelerate ratification of the Protocol on Negative Safeguards to the Treaty by the nuclear-weapon states. She stressed the importance of including the issues of disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the existing national general education curricula at various levels. In this context, the Kyrgyz side called on the parties to support the draft resolution of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly "International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education" initiated by the Kyrgyz Republic. The event also included a meeting of representatives of Central Asian states that are parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia (NWFZ). An extensive exchange of views on the further development of cooperation between the countries in the framework of the Treaty took place. The NPT is a treaty that entered into force on March 5, 1970, and is the cornerstone of the modern nuclear non-proliferation regime. The purpose of the NPT is to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, and to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.