Kazakhstan, Astana, Feb. 23 / Trend T. Nurmagambetov /
Kazakhstan became the twenty fourth member of the G-8 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said today.
"It was officially announced that Kazakhstan has been admitted to the Global Partnership as a recipient country during the meeting of experts in Washington," a statement said.
The Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction was established at the G-8 summit in Kananaskis (Canada) on, June 27, 2002. The validity of this initiative was originally designed for 10 years, until 2012. A decision was made to extend the mandate of the Global Partnership after 2012, expanding its geography and scope at the G-8 summit in Deauville (France) in May 2011.
The main areas of cooperation include nuclear, radiological, and biological safety, employment of academics involved in sensitive areas, as well as assistance in the third countries' implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540. It urges countries to refrain from supporting non-state bodies that attempt to develop, acquire, manufacture, possess, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and means of their delivery.
Kazakhstan will continue its activity aimed at the further strengthening of national, regional and international security through participation of the Global Partnership.