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The Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan International conference XXI CENTURY: NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES AND NONPROLIFERATION PROBLEMS” (Astana, 7-9 October 2015) Welcoming speech of Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan H.E. Mr Traian Hristea Your Excellency Mr Shkolnik! Dear Executive Director of the International Science and Technology Center Ms Harrington, Dear distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen! Let me on behalf of the European Union side welcome you to this "XXI century: Nuclear technologies and non-proliferation problems" conference on topical issue – nuclear safety and non-proliferation, which during its 23 years history has passed the childhood and teenage times and now reaching the mature stage of its development. During the last few years the world community have been witnessing a breakthrough in nuclear non- proliferation movement, including the signing of the Protocol to the Central Asian Nuclear- Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan on Iran nuclear program and Low Enriched Uranium Bank establishment in Kazakhstan. Certainly, Kazakhstan's role in global nuclear non-proliferation efforts is unique, being the first ever country to close a nuclear test site, renouncing the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal and contributing to the creation of a nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia. It's important to note the progress made by Kazakhstan in its campaign for a non- permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2017-18, and express appreciation for its priority areas on this campaign, namely energy, food and environmental security, water management. In all these areas Kazakhstan has an impressive record. Especially President Nazarbayev's recent initiative at the UN General Assembly to adopt UN Universal Declaration to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons reiterated Kazakhstan's firm stance towards nuclear security. We welcome the signing of the Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Low Enriched Uranium Bank establishment in Ust-Kamenogorsk. After the US and Nuclear Threat Initiative, the EU is the second largest contributor to the project with EUR 25 million allocation. This is an event of global significance and an important step towards the safe and peaceful use of the nuclear energy. The world should acknowledge it as an important measure of safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy. We'd like to reiterate that the EU is

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The Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan

International conference XXI CENTURY: NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES AND NONPROLIFERATION PROBLEMS”

(Astana, 7-9 October 2015)

Welcoming speech of Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan H.E. Mr Traian Hristea

Your Excellency Mr Shkolnik! Dear Executive Director of the International Science and Technology Center Ms Harrington, Dear distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen! Let me on behalf of the European Union side welcome you to this "XXI century: Nuclear technologies and non-proliferation problems" conference on topical issue – nuclear safety and non-proliferation, which during its 23 years history has passed the childhood and teenage times and now reaching the mature stage of its development. During the last few years the world community have been witnessing a breakthrough in nuclear non-proliferation movement, including the signing of the Protocol to the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan on Iran nuclear program and Low Enriched Uranium Bank establishment in Kazakhstan. Certainly, Kazakhstan's role in global nuclear non-proliferation efforts is unique, being the first ever country to close a nuclear test site, renouncing the world’s fourth largest nuclear arsenal and contributing to the creation of a nuclear weapon free zone in Central Asia. It's important to note the progress made by Kazakhstan in its campaign for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2017-18, and express appreciation for its priority areas on this campaign, namely energy, food and environmental security, water management. In all these areas Kazakhstan has an impressive record. Especially President Nazarbayev's recent initiative at the UN General Assembly to adopt UN Universal Declaration to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons reiterated Kazakhstan's firm stance towards nuclear security. We welcome the signing of the Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Low Enriched Uranium Bank establishment in Ust-Kamenogorsk. After the US and Nuclear Threat Initiative, the EU is the second largest contributor to the project with EUR 25 million allocation. This is an event of global significance and an important step towards the safe and peaceful use of the nuclear energy. The world should acknowledge it as an important measure of safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy. We'd like to reiterate that the EU is

keen to actively participate in practical implementation of the Low Enriched Uranium Bank commissioning. The EU is willing to support enhancing the Nuclear Safety and Security in Central Asia, Caucasus and Eastern Europe by engaging in multilateral and regional (cross-border) projects, in close cooperation with our American and Japanese colleagues. Regarding scientific component, we'd like to express gratitude to Kazakh side for hosting the International Science and Technology Center and for the progress made with the signature of the new ISTC Continuation Agreement. It's crucial to support the networking activities between the experts from the "East" and "West", establishing sustainable cooperation between the scientific communities of the participating countries, including the neighbouring countries, as Afghanistan, Mongolia and Pakistan. In this regard, "Horison-2020" is the latest EU Framework Programme for research and innovation, launched in 2013 with a total budget of around EUR 80 billion. The programme is based on key pillars as scientific excellence, industrial leadership and tackling social challenges. During the recent visit of the European Commission International Cooperation Department Director Mrs Cristina Russo we have reached agreement on further active participation of Kazakhstani scholars and research centers in the EU projects. The activities in the field of nuclear security should be part of longer term programmatic approach. EU is in favour of creating a Nuclear Security Targeted Initiative and stands ready to fund or co-fund a couple of regional projects in this field. In this respect, we invite the participants to use this opportunity to develop relevant project proposals that will be considered for future funding. For growing world energy demand nuclear energy is a saviour and a challenge at the same time. Finding the best solution to keep the nuclear energy production and use safe, efficient will depend on us. The EU encourages partners in the region to use the opportunity of the launching of the EU CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Risk mitigation Centre of Excellence to coordinate their activities and define projects in the nuclear security domain. By these projects we would also like to create opportunities for the younger scientists to get involved in attractive and meaningful activities in their countries. I'm happy that the present conference has special panel in the program for young scholars. I'd like to extend our gratitude to the Forum organizers, Swedish Radiation Safety Authority and Center for Nonproliferation Studies, International Science and Technology Center, Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan for their efforts in providing a dialogue platform for scholars, scientists and policy-makers, with a potential to elaborate concrete recommendations on further maintenance of international nuclear security. Hereby I wish to all conference participants fruitful discussions! Thank you!