President Barack Obama expressed hope for joint Kazakh-American projects continuation

Delivering a speech at the opening of the Forum in Astana, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman has read out US President Barack Obama's statement.

"In the year of the 20^th anniversary of the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site I highly appraise the historic decision of the Republic of Kazakhstan and President Nursultan Nazarbayev, which allowed to lay foundation for reduction of nuclear threat and expansion of efforts on nuclear nonproliferation. Today's event reminds us that completion of nuclear tests should remain a top priority for the international community. During almost two decades the USA and Kazakhstan work jointly in the sphere of reduction and elimination of biological weapons. Our partnership is demonstration of those opportunities, which we can achieve. When people act together in a spirit of cooperation, they share responsibility and jointly stand against challenges. I hope that such a level of interaction will be demonstrated by all countries at the VII Review Conference of the Biological Weapons Convention in December this year. For a long time Kazakhstan is a leader in the field of nonproliferation and nuclear safety as well as a friend of the USA. I hope for continuation of our joint projects in these fields," the statement reads.