Central Asia Goes Non-Nuclear

A soon-to-be-signed treaty establishing Central Asia as a region free of nuclear weapons needs to be seen in the context of the current international crisis around Iran’s nuclear programme. Analysts say the gesture - designed to show how dependable the Central Asians are politically - will help the world community isolate Tehran.



On September 8, the leaders of Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are scheduled to gather in the Kazak city of Semipalatinsk to sign a regional anti-nuclear treaty. Foreign ministers from the United States, Britain and regional neighbour Mongolia will also atteend.



Some experts view the treaty as part of an international plan, designed and implemented with the help of the West, that seeks to isolate Iran because of its refusal to halt its nuclear programme.



The treaty will be signed on the 15th anniversary of the end of nuclear testing at Semipalatinsk. During the Soviet era, 498 nuclear tests were conducted on the test range here, bringing the area close to ecological catastrophe.



Kazakstan has the world’s second-largest reserves of uranium, used in the production of nuclear weapons. It is also the third-largest uranium producer, and cooperates with nuclear powers such as China and Russia in processing the mineral. But Kazakstan has repeatedly emphasised that its nuclear industry is peaceful and is aimed at diversifying its energy resources.



Although region-wide agreements in Central Asia tend to evoke a degree of scepticism, analysts suggest that this treaty will be supported by all five countries, since it will allow them to score political points and show foreign investors that they are on board when it comes to the delicate matter of nuclear non-proliferation.



The world community will doubtless be pleased with this gesture of goodwill from Central Asian leaders. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has sent Kazak president Nursultan Nazarbaev a message commending his country for voluntarily relinquishing nuclear weapons and pursuing peaceful policies in this regard.



(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)