Addressing the United Nations Regarding the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site

Addressing the United Nations Regarding the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site

Rewritten Article

Nuke Nightmares: Kazakhstan's Recall of a UN Nuclear Test Hell

In 1990, during the 45th session of the UN General Assembly, the Kazakh SSR, a Soviet republic, made waves by raising the issue of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site. Akmaral Arystanbekova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kazakh SSR, spoke out against the tests, sharing her country's grim experiences firsthand.

A year into her role as Minister, Arystanbekova joined the Soviet delegation led by Eduard Shevardnadze, head of the USSR's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As part of the delegation, she attended the UN General Assembly and the Third Committee, dealing with social and humanitarian concerns.

Arystanbekova used her platform to address the catastrophic consequences of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk site. In her discussions with UN delegates, Secretariat leadership, and journalists, she highlighted the devastating impact on the health, environment, and economy of nearby regions.

Vladimir Petrovsky, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Soviet delegation to the First Committee (dealing with disarmament and security), recognized Arystanbekova's passion and invited her to speak at this committee. Together, they prepared a speech advocating for a complete and universal ban on nuclear tests.

On October 23, Arystanbekova spoke in the UN First Committee, her proposals garnering attention. As she discussed the grim realities of her country, many delegates noted the rarity of a union republic representative addressing the committee, piquing great interest.

Quoting from her original speech (translated from Russian):

"Arystanbekova (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics):

The problem of nuclear-weapon testing has long been a matter of human survival. Solving it requires joint efforts from the entire international community, parliamentarians, the public, and the United Nations. [...]

Kazakhstan, unfortunately, has direct experience of what is involved. During the 40 years of testing at the Semipalatinsk range, nuclear devices, a thousand times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, have been exploded. All this has caused incalculable harm to the health of the people, the environment, and the economy of the affected territories."

After the USSR ratified the Soviet-American Treaties on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear-Weapons Tests, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted an address in October 1990, proposing to turn the moratorium on nuclear testing into a permanent cessation, provided the U.S. would follow suit.

Arystanbekova's passionate speech caused a stir. Many delegates praised her balanced approach, while some were shocked by her words and the courage of Kazakhstan's decision to immediately end nuclear tests, an approach not previously embraced by the USSR.

Tragically, the following day, October 24, a nuclear bomb was tested in the Soviet Union at the Novaya Zemlya test site, overshadowing Arystanbekova's speech.

Throughout her time as Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the UN and head of the nation's delegation in the First Committee, Arystanbekova's first speech and its impact were often recounted by other delegates. Her bold stance on nuclear testing has left a lasting impression in the global arena.

Fast forward to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, President Tokayev reemphasized the urgency of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, praising Kazakhstan's role in promoting a world free of nuclear weapons.

1. During the 45th session of the UN General Assembly, the Kazakh SSR, a Soviet republic, raised concerns about nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk test site, a issue that plagued the discourse of environmental-science, policy-and-legislation, and political discussions.
2. Akmaral Arystanbekova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kazakh SSR, was a part of the Soviet delegation led by Eduard Shevardnadze in 1990, which also attended the Third Committee, focusing on social and humanitarian issues, and the First Committee, dealing with disarmament and security.
3. Akmaral Arystanbekova used her platform at the UN General Assembly to discuss the adverse effects of nuclear tests at the Semipalatinsk site on the health, environment, and economy of neighboring regions, highlighting the importance of education-and-self-development and personal-growth in addressing such issues.
4. In her influential speech in the UN First Committee, Arystanbekova advocated for a complete and universal ban on nuclear tests due to the catastrophic consequences of war-and-conflicts, climate-change, and the general-news.
5. Arystanbekova's speech caused a stir, and many delegates praised her balanced approach, while others were shocked by her words and the courage of Kazakhstan's decision to immediately stop nuclear tests, an approach not previously embraced by the USSR.
6. Tragically, the following day after her speech, a nuclear bomb was tested in the Soviet Union at the Novaya Zemlya test site, overshadowing Arystanbekova's impassioned and thought-provoking words.
7. In the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, President Tokayev reemphasized the urgency of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, praising Kazakhstan's role in promoting a world free of nuclear weapons, honoring Akmaral Arystanbekova's legacy and her continued relevance in the ongoing struggle for peace and safety.

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