Kazakhstan backs Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy

Kazakhstan supported Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Kazak Foreign Ministry announced Sunday.

In a press communique released by the Foreign Ministry, Kazak Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Kemelevich Tokayev expressed his country's supportive view while meeting with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on Saturday.

Kazakhstan's stand towards the nuclear issue is very clear, the foreign minister stated, first, Kazakhstan fully complies with the Nuclear Non-proliferation Principle; second, every country capable has the right to develop its own nuclear programs for peaceful purposes; third, any implementation of nuclear plans should be under IAEA's strict supervision.

Mottaki said Iran shared the same stand as Kazakhstan's on the nuclear issue. He suggested that members of the Central Asia Economic Cooperation Organization should have the right to develop nuclear technologies for peaceful use.

He also backed Kazakhstan's decision to voluntarily give up nuclear weapons, and hoped all countries do the same.

The 15th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Central Asia Economic Cooperation Organization was held in Kazak capital of Astana on Saturday. An agreement was passed during the meeting on strengthening economic cooperation in the next 10 years among the organization's member states, in the fields of trade, investment, telecommunications, energy, finance, agriculture, industry, transportation, tourism and environmental protection. Founded in 1985, the organization now groups Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Source: Xinhua