'Kazakhstan, the leader of anti-nuclear movement' photo exhibition opened in Minsk

The CIS Executive Committee, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations attended the event organized by the Kazakh Embassy.

The exposition was structured into four parts. It demonstrates the destructive power of nuclear weapons, the aftermath of the tests, the protest of the people of Kazakhstan and the Nevada Semipalatinsk anti-nuclear movement, the efforts of Kazakhstan to promote nuclear non-proliferation and ban nuclear tests.

Opening the exposition Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belarus Anatoly Smirnov noted deep symbolism in the fact that August 29 was declared the International Day against Nuclear Tests, since on this day back in 1949, the first Soviet nuclear bomb was blown up at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. On August 29, 1991 President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev ordered to close the Semipalatinsk Test Site.

CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev noted the significant role of Kazakhstan in promoting nuclear non-proliferation. "Kazakhstan's efforts to stop nuclear tests led to the desired results: the tests were suspended not only on the nuclear test sites of Kazakhstan and other CIS member states, but also in other countries around the world," he said.

The CIS Executive Secretary emphasized the importance of the decision of five Central Asian states to create a nuclear free zone. "We are convinced that our efforts will help promote security in the CIS member states and all over Europe," he said.