Honorary Ambassador of the ATOM Project and non-proliferation activist Karipbek Kuyukov talks to IDN-INPS about the success of the broad-based movement for the closing down of the nuclear testing site independent Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Union after its collapse. He urges North Korea to end nuclear tests and appeals to the international community to help usher in a world free of nuclear weapons.
Katsuhiro Asagiri, Chairman and Multimedia Director of INPS Japan, joined Ramesh Jaura, Editor-in-Chief of IDN, who came from Germany, on an international press tour to visit the Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Ust-Kamenogorsk (Oskemen), eastern Kazakhstan, and the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, which operates the facility. They conducted reporting and produced a documentary during the tour. The following day, they also covered the inauguration ceremony, which was held via a satellite link connecting the LEU Bank with the capital, Astana. The ceremony was co-hosted by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and President Nursultan Nazarbayev. This video captures the press conference held after the inauguration ceremony.
Former UN Under-Secretary-General and outgoing Pugwash Conference President Jayantha Dhanapala explains ‘old’ and ‘new’ nuclear dangers the world is confronted with, commends Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev for his commitment to resolving global issues, and proposes ‘Astana peace process’ – as in the case of Syria – to revive six-party talks on Korea. Venue of the interview during the Pugwash Conference on ‘Confronting New Nuclear Dangers’ (August 25-29, 2017) was the Radisson Hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan.SHOW LESS
IDN-INPS was witness to four notable events several days ahead of July 2 that marked the 25th anniversary of the country’s diplomatic service. These imparted Astana the flavour of a vigorous hub of international activity aimed at connecting people of all ethnicities, religions and political predispositions.
As Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko told IDN in Astana, Kazakhstan’s diplomacy in 25 years was marked by 25 achievements that were topped by those in regional and global diplomacy.
Sixty years after convening its first meeting, Pugwash held its 62nd conference in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, from August 25-29, 2017. While IDN-INPS Editor-in-Chief and Director-General explains the significance of this landmark international gathering hosted by Kazakhstan, the video captures important milestones of the opening day with a film explaining the history of the nuclear age until today and one speaker after another stressing the compelling need for undertaking every effort to usher in a world free of nuclear weapons.
Recorded are the remarks, among others, of Former UN Under-Secertary-General Pugwash President Jayantha Dhanapala, Kazakh Parliament Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu. CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo, Jennifer Allen Simons, President of The Simons Foundation Canada; Former UN Under-Secretary-General Sergio Duarte; Ambassador Elaine Whyte Gómez of Costa Rica, President of the UN Conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading to their total elimination, and Christine Muttonen of Austria, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
IDN-INPS joined journalists from various parts of the world on a one-day trip to watch the inauguration of the Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank Storage Facility of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant (UMP) in Ust-Kamenogorsk, also known as Oskemen, in East Kazakhstan region on August 28.
IDN-INPS also participated in the Press Conference following the inauguration ceremony of the IAEA LEU Bank at Hilton Hotel Astana on August 29, the International Day against Nuclear Tests.
Katsuhiro Asagiri, Chairman and Multimedia Director of INPS Japan, joined Ramesh Jaura, Editor-in-Chief of IDN, who came from Germany, on an international press tour to visit the Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Ust-Kamenogorsk (Oskemen) in eastern Kazakhstan, as well as the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, which operates the facility. During the tour, they conducted reporting and produced a documentary. The following day, they also covered the inauguration ceremony, which was held through a satellite link connecting the LEU Bank with the capital, Astana. The ceremony was co-hosted by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) Bank is intended to help strengthen nuclear non-proliferation while ensuring the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as recognized for member states under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), by providing countries without uranium enrichment capabilities with assured access to a stable supply of nuclear fuel.
It was overwhelming to meet Karipbek Kuyukov in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, during the 62nd Pugwash Conference focussed on Confronting New Nuclear Dangers. We talked about the pressing need to do away with nuclear weapons. Visiting an exhibition of his paintings in the National Museum of Kazakhstan was a shattering experience.
Karipbek Kuyukov was born 45 years ago in a small village in Kazakhstan, just miles from where the Soviet Union conducted more than 450 nuclear weapons tests. Those tests exposed his parents to radiation and resulted in Karipbek being born without arms. Karipbek has overcome many obstacles to become an anti-nuclear weapons activist and renowned artist whose works have been shown around the world.
Today, Karipbek often paints portraits of the victims of nuclear testing and, as honorary Ambassador to The ATOM Project, speaks out against nuclear weapons at conferences and events held in such places as the United Nations and the United States Congress.
WATCH VIDEO > Honorary Ambassador of the ATOM Project and non-proliferation activist Karipbek Kuyukov talks to IDN-INPS about the success of the broad-based movement for the closing down of the nuclear testing site independent Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Union after its collapse. He urges North Korea to end nuclear tests and appeals to the international community to help usher in a world free of nuclear weapons. Filmed and edited by Katsuhiro Asagiri, IDN-INPS Multimedia Director.
WATCH VIDEO > Screams of the Soul: A Glimpse of the Paintings of Karipbek Kuyukov.
Sixty years after convening its first meeting, Pugwash held its 62nd conference in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan, from August 25-29, 2017. While IDN-INPS Editor-in-Chief and Director-General explains the significance of this landmark international gathering hosted by Kazakhstan, the video captures important milestones of the opening day with a film explaining the history of the nuclear age until today and one speaker after another stressing the compelling need for undertaking every effort to usher in a world free of nuclear weapons. Recorded are the remarks, among others, of Former UN Under-Secertary-General Pugwash President Jayantha Dhanapala, Kazakh Parliament Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu. CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo, Jennifer Allen Simons, President of The Simons Foundation Canada; Former UN Under-Secretary-General Sergio Duarte; Ambassador Elaine Whyte Gómez of Costa Rica, President of the UN Conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading to their total elimination, and Christine Muttonen of Austria, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
