United Nations, 1 October 1996 (RFE/RL) -- Kazakhstan -- the site of Soviet nuclear tests for decades -- has signed the international nuclear test ban treaty.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister, Kasymjomart Tokayev, signed the treaty at United Nations Heaquarters yesterday.
During the signing ceremony, Tokayev noted that the nuclear test site in Kazakhstan was closed down five years ago, and that Soviet-era nuclear weapons have been withdrawn, as agreed, to Russia.
Kazakhstan was the 94th country to sign this treaty. Five other former Soviet republics have also signed: Georgia, Latvia, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister, Kasymjomart Tokayev, signed the treaty at United Nations Heaquarters yesterday.
During the signing ceremony, Tokayev noted that the nuclear test site in Kazakhstan was closed down five years ago, and that Soviet-era nuclear weapons have been withdrawn, as agreed, to Russia.
Kazakhstan was the 94th country to sign this treaty. Five other former Soviet republics have also signed: Georgia, Latvia, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine.