Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has urged the United Nations to take immediate steps towards establishing an International Agency for Biological Safety. President Tokayev made this proposal during his address at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, marking Kazakhstan's commitment to addressing the growing global concerns regarding biological threats and hazards.
During his speech, President Tokayev highlighted Kazakhstan's active engagement in international diplomacy and regional cooperation, emphasizing its role in transforming the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia into a fully-fledged international organization dedicated to promoting peace and mediation across the continent.
“In our own region, the growing engagement of member-states has been a positive force in the transformation of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia into a full-fledged international organization that can contribute to continental mediation and peace-making” the president stated.
President Tokayev, who is also the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, introduced the "Initiative of World Unity for a Just Peace and Harmony." This initiative, he explained, consists of three fundamental pillars: a New Security Paradigm, a Fair Economic Environment, and a Clean Planet. He extended an invitation to the global community to join this initiative, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue between the Global South and the Global North.
In his address, President Tokayev emphasized the pressing need for international cooperation in the face of two significant global threats: nuclear weapons and biological risks. He commended Kazakhstan's decision to voluntarily renounce its substantial nuclear arsenal three decades ago, underscoring the importance of mutual trust and cooperation among nuclear-armed nations in achieving global stability. Kazakhstan reaffirmed its commitment to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and advocated for the development of new disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms. President Tokayev proposed a Strategic Plan aimed at the complete elimination of nuclear weapons by 2045, emphasizing its potential to enhance global security.
Turning to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Tokayev highlighted the world's vulnerability to biological risks and threats. He called upon the UN Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly to initiate the establishment of an International Agency for Biological Safety, recognizing the urgent need for a comprehensive framework to prevent, detect, and respond to biological hazards at a global level.
Kazakhstan's proposal for an International Agency for Biological Safety underscores the increasing recognition within the international community of the importance of addressing biological threats and ensuring global preparedness and coordination in the face of pandemics and emerging infectious diseases. It remains to be seen how this proposal will be received and whether it will gain traction among UN member states, but President Tokayev's call signals Kazakhstan's commitment to international cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges.
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