Kassym-Jomart Tokayev officially assumes office as Secretary-General of Conference on Disarmament

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his address to the CD participants, stressed that "the international community expects the Conference to begin effective negotiations of the topics on agenda." He noted that his appointment coincided with a decisive phase for the Conference and called on its members for a constructive and open cooperation to preserve the credibility of the forum as the only multilateral forum for disarmament.

The Conference on Disarmament (CD), confirmed in 1979 as the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community, was a result of the first Special Session on Disarmament of the United Nations General Assembly held in 1978. The CD counts 66 members. Kazakhstan joined the Conference in August 1999.

The mission of the Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament is, primarily, to facilitate the work of the Conference in the technical and organizational terms. Secretary-General also help promote the issues discussed between the members of the Conference.