KAZAKHSTAN’S NUCLEAR GOVERNANCE AS A FOREIGN POLICY ASSET

Abstract

Kazakhstan’s nonproliferation initiatives are recognized worldwide. Kazakhstan is a party to almost all major nuclear treaties, a key driver in the creation of a Central Asian nuclear-weapon-free zone, initiated the Universal Declaration on Building a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, established a low-enriched uranium bank under the auspices of the IAEA in Ust-Kamenogorsk to be used for peaceful purposes in the event of a disruption in the supply of fuel for nuclear power plants.While the foreign policy acts of Kazakhstan in non-proliferation are well known and internationally appreciated, the transfer of Kazakh experience in the governance of the nuclear sector is lesser known asset. For example, the experience of the Committee for Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control and KAZATOMPROM in uranium mining and transport was shared with countries from the Southern African Development Community, under an EU project, implemented by the International Science and Technology Center. This example reveals the great potential this themes have for the further input of Kazakhstan in international development cooperation.