Int'l conference to focus on environmental problems of Semipalatinsk
ASTANA. August 23. KAZINFORM /Kanat Kulshmanov/ On the threshold of the International Day against Nuclear Tests on August 26 Astana will host a conference organized by the Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs together with the UN Representation in Kazakhstan. MFA's official spokesman Askar Abdrakhmanov has made it public at a weekly briefing.
As in known, in December last year the United Nations General Assembly declared August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The conference will focus on the political aspects of cessation of nuclear tests and denuclearization as well as socio-economic and environmental problems and prospects of development of the Semey region. Among those who have already confirmed their participation are Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Tibor Tóth, IAEA Deputy Director General Werner Burkart, Head of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Miroslav Jenca, UN Assistant Secretary-General Kori Udovički and others.
Following the results of the conference the participants are planned to adopt an appeal to the world community, a new joint program and action plan on Semey development.