Online seminar "Strengthening capacities for multilateral verification of nuclear disarmament"

From 19 to 20 May 2021, in accordance with clause 3.1 of the PCK action plan, members of the Pugwash Committee of Kazakhstan and the Youth Branch Zhantikin T.M., Tazhibaeva I.L., Miniyazov A.Zh., Botov A.A. took part in the online forum "Strengthening capacities for multilateral verification of nuclear disarmament". The event was organized by the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) in conjunction with the VERTIC Center for Verification Research, Training and Information. The project, which hosted an online seminar, is dedicated to supporting the development and strengthening of practical and effective nuclear disarmament verification measures to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons.

The speakers at the online seminar were specialists from leading organizations of the nuclear industry in Kazakhstan, including the RSE NNC RK, NAC Kazatomprom. The topics of the reports covered the following areas: maintenance of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and implementation of the IAEA safeguards system in relation to the uranium mining industry; verification procedures and techniques applicable to the irreversible decommissioning or conversion of nuclear infrastructure; Kazakhstan model as an inclusive approach to gender promotion in the field of nuclear non-proliferation; and nuclear diplomacy of Kazakhstan.

The seminar began with a presentation by N. Bokovaya (NAC Kazatomprom), who made a presentation on the topic "Maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation regime and implementation of the IAEA safeguards system in relation to the uranium mining industry". A.Yu. Osintsev spoke about the verification procedures and techniques applicable to the irreversible decommissioning or conversion of nuclear infrastructure. (RSE NNC RK).

Two presentations on the topics "Technical procedures for the application of protective measures: how to prevent the reappearance of nuclear weapons?" and “The Kazakhstan Model as an Inclusive Approach to Gender Advancement in the Sphere of Nuclear Nonproliferation: Achievements and Prospects” were presented by D.B. Kazbekova. (ProWomen in Nuclear Kazakhstan). V.S. Gnyrya spoke about the verification procedures and techniques applicable to the placement of fissile material that can be used for the production of nuclear weapons. (RSE NNC RK).

The final report within the framework of the online seminar was devoted to nuclear diplomacy in Kazakhstan, as an example of positive scientific diplomacy, which was presented by E.M. Nikhanov. (NAC Kazatomprom).

The seminar was attended by more than 30 people. All topics of the reports received a high feedback from the audience. The event provided the participants with an opportunity to diversify the discussion of verification approaches when working with fissile materials, conversion and decommissioning of nuclear infrastructure, nuclear non-proliferation and diplomacy issues.