New world order impossible without morality and spirituality - Nazarbayev

After the collapse of the USSR it was Kazakhstan that had the fourth world's nuclear-missile arsenal, but President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took an unprecedented decision and rejected that fateful 'present'.

The Head of the State says that it was not so easy to say 'no' to such arsenal. At that time in Kazakhstan there were supporters of the idea to keep it. First of all that arsenal would have become a strong and effective tool in keeping ambitions of potential enemies away off Kazakhstan. Only the fact that Kazakhstan possessed nuclear missiles would have brought back to reality any obscure-minded enemies. Secondly, that arsenal would have compensated for the imbalance of military potential in the sphere of conventional arms and the number of the Armed Forces of the country. Thirdly, it was thought then that nuclear weapon would have given the status of a regional superpower to Kazakhstan. Fourthly, it was emphasized that retaining nuclear complex would have been beneficial for development of scientific and technical potential. And the fifth point, the most rational idea was to reduce the size of the arsenal to the amount needed for nuclear deterrence. And then during 20-30 years without hurry choose the way the problem could have been solved.

The Kazakhstan's choice on denuclearization was made in tough conditions. The major part of Kazakhstan locates in Asia; the majority of our population is Muslim. Some advisers tried to convince us to retain that nuclear arsenal promising profound financial support to our country and international 'prestige' as the first and only Muslim country possessing nuclear weapon.

As a result, amid weakness of the world security system of the 1990s and some other factors, Kazakhstan rejected the possibility of having nuclear weapons. The last nuclear device was eliminated at the Semipalatinsk site on May 7, 1995.

'Kazakhstan plays a very important role in nonproliferation of nuclear weapons', member of the U.S. Commission on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Thomas Grand says, adding 'I believe that your President's speech at the Global Summit gave an impetus for solving nuclear problems.'

'We always speak of Kazakhstan as an example for others', Deputy Director of the Center for Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapon Leonard Spector noted. He also said that Nursultan Nazarbayev was a man who represented the idea of a world free from nuclear weapons. Along with renouncing the world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal and taking all possible measures to remove all enriched uranium from the country, your president always called on leaders of other countries for reducing nuclear initiatives.

The role of Kazakhstan in nonproliferation of nuclear weapons is highly appraised worldwide. It was taken into account by Russia and the USA when they decided to begin strategic arms reduction.

Last year Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed one more initiative connected with nuclear technologies. He suggested hosting the International Nuclear Fuel Bank on the territory of Kazakhstan.

'Our initiative on setting up the International Nuclear Fuel Bank in Kazakhstan is our contribution to strengthening of the non-proliferation regime and elimination of the problems connected with development of national programs on peaceful atomic use by several countries', Nursultan Nazarbayev said.

The main aim of establishing the Bank is to give access to nuclear materials to the countries willing to develop peaceful atomic energy and having not enough domestic resources. The most important is that the Bank is environmentally safe. Kazakhstan has safe technologies of production, processing and storage of radioactive materials, as international experts say. The control over the bank operation will be conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

'Kazakhstan is ready to host the Bank on its territory and ensure required storage of nuclear fuel. I can assure you that Kazakhstan will never step over the line dividing peaceful use of atomic energy and programs developing it in war purposes', Kazakh President said.

The idea about establishment of the Bank has already been approved by leaders of many countries. The US President expressed his support to the intention of Kazakhstan to join the IAEA Board of Governors.

Kazakhstan has proved its ability to preserve interethnic and interreligious harmony. The state used its experience for creation of a dialogue platform where religious leaders of the world, sometimes even more influential than political ones, can build up a common model of interaction. Astana has already held three Congresses of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

'Astana is the city of interreligious harmony. The Palace of Peace and Accord, minarets of mosques, domes of Christian churches and synagogues and other religions are part of the urban architecture and spiritual life. Astana is the capital of the country that has always been a center of historical and cultural heritage of the greatest civilizations', Nursultan Nazarbayev said delivering speech at the third religious congress in 2009.

The numbers show that the idea of establishing the Congress was a wise decision: 29 delegations attended the forum in 2006; in 2009 their number increased to 77 from 35 countries.

'New world order is impossible without morality and spirituality. They should become the factors of post-crisis world rebuilding. Whatever is the best in the culture of any nation should be the treasure of the whole mankind. In such a world there will not be any suspicions, discrimination on religious or any other ground. It will be the society where progress will be measured not only by material goods but remembering about morality and spirituality of people', Kazakh President emphasized.

Nursultan Nazarbayev has always been committed to the idea of introduction of a world's new currency that could prevent economies of many countries from such economic disasters that occurred in the USA and affected the entire world.

Nursultan Nazarbayev is confident that the main criterion for developing a new harmonious system is a supranational currency. First of all it is needed to adopt a law on world currency, which should be signed by the majority of the countries and then approved by the UN.

'We have to redistribute the load from the old defective world currency and transfer it to a system of regional and continental currencies. This will be a transition period for introducing a world's new currency', Nursultan Nazarbayev said.

As the President believes, the EurAsEC and possibly the SCO can start the establishment of a monetary and financial integrated association with a single interstate supranational cashless currency independent on other world currencies' fluctuations.

According to N. Nazarbayev, though many believe that introduction of a single currency leads to the loss of sovereignty, the rejection of this idea in the crisis conditions leads to the loss of economic sovereignty.

Kazakhstan has already shown its active position in interstate organizations. This year is a symbolic year for the country to show its initiatives and represent its policies as the OSCE presiding country. Nursultan Nazarbayev initiated to hold the OSCE Summit in Astana. The last large scale forum attended by the heads of all OSCE member countries was held in Istanbul in 1999.

'The issues on the agenda should be of highest importance, for instance building of common security, realization of Corfu Process, providing assistance to Afghanistan. Besides, Kazakhstan proposes to submit for consideration the issue regarding development of an Action Plan on provision of interethnic and interreligious accord', the President says.

According to the President, this summit could be a symbol of revival of the Helsinki spirit in the new historic period. Many political experts express their hope for 'reloading' and revival of the Organization.