Kazakhstan leads in control over export of nuclear materials in CA

After gaining independence President of the country Nursultan Nazarbayev took a fateful decision to renounce its nuclear arsenal and make the country a stabilizing force in the region.

In conformity with Kazakhstan's position in non-proliferation of nuclear weapons our country has developed a system of control over nuclear materials. The basic principles of export control in Kazakhstan are: observance of international obligations on non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons; priority of political interests in exercise of export control; transparency of the system of export control; inadmissibility of support of international terrorism; conformity of the procedures and rules of export control to generally accepted international norms and practice.

Adoption of the resolutions on export and import of nuclear materials, dual-use commodities and technologies by the Cabinet in 1993 underlay the system of export control. In 1995 the country adopted the Law On licensing which provided for the order of issuing the licenses for holding export-import operations. In 1996 Kazakhstan was one of the first CIS countries to adopt the Law On export control of armament, military techniques and dual-use commodities which became a milestone in the national system of export regulation.

Today export control in Kazakhstan is regulated by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan On export control as of July 21, 2007. In October 2007 Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed an Agreement on single order of export control in the Eurasian Economic Community countries in Moscow. The document is directed on effective functioning of the single economic space.

Transparency of the system of export control in Kazakhstan is ensured by sending the information on export of nuclear materials to the IAEA.

Since May 2002 Kazakhstan has been a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group which plays a key role in the international system of supply of nuclear fuel. In 2008 Kazakhstan became a member of the Zangger Committee which sets the best pattern of acknowledgment of efficient system of export control satisfying the international norms in our country.