Situation in Semipalatinsk regions still serious - UN rep

2009 is a jubilee year for Semipalatinsk region - 60 years ago the Soviet Union first tested its nuclear bomb at the Semipalatinsk test site; 20 years ago the moratorium on nuclear testing was declared; 10 years ago Tokyo International Conference on Semipalatinsk took place; on April 29, 2009 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution on rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk former test site.

First Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Kazakhstan Nurtai Abykayev took part in the roundtable. In his welcome speech Mr. Abykayev thanked the participants of the forum for multilateral support in rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk test site.

Permanent Representative of the UN Development Program in Kazakhstan Haolyan Shu noted that "the situation in Semipalatinsk region remains to be serious since the population still suffers from the tests that continued for 40 years. In its resolution the UN General Assembly calls on the international community to support Kazakhstan's efforts on rehabilitation of the region and population". According to him, low potential of management, limited participation of civil society and insufficient coordination between the international contributors, government and international community impeded progress in the sphere.

The representatives of the National Nuclear Center of Kazakhstan presented analysis of radioactivity and socio-economic situation on the former nuclear test site. The participants also discussed a new strategy of the Kazakh government on solution of problems of the Semipalatinsk test site.