Nazarbayev supports Obama's anti-nuclear strategy

    Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev has expressed his support for the US anti-nuclear strategy under the administration of President Barack Obama, KazTAG reports.
    "I fully support your call to all nations and peoples for a nuclear-free world," Nazarbayev told Barack Obama at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.
    He noted Obama's anti-nuclear strategy states that military action using nuclear weapons cannot be used against countries that join the non-proliferation treaty.
    "This inspires everyone," Nazarbayev said, while noting that Kazakhstan has made a contribution to this effort. In particular, Kazakhstan closed its nuclear test site in Semipalatinsk, and gave up its nuclear arsenal, which entailed 1,100 nuclear warheads.
    The president also stressed the United States and Russia jointly engaged in huge efforts to dismantle the nuclear site's infrastructure and nuclear units, which is very important for Kazakhstani citizens who fell victim to nuclear tests.
    "We achieved a strategic partnership thanks to that. The U.S. invested $20 billion into Kazakhstan. This is 80 percent of all investments into Central Asia. I believe this is a role model worth following. I have always talked about this and have called on those countries that are striving for nuclear weapons to follow Kazakhstan's example for the benefit of their people," Nazarbayev said.
    "We hope for the further enhancement of economic and political cooperation between our countries," he added.
    Nazarbayev also thanked Obama for his invitation to the Washington and Seoul anti-nuclear summits.
    The Nuclear Security Summit is held in Seoul on March 26-27. Participants will discuss physical and technical protection, the security of nuclear energy facilities and radioactive materials. The summit will be attended by presidents of 53 countries and 4 international organizations, www.tengrinews.kz reports.