[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E881-E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               KAZAKHSTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2003

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, today, when our country faces 
unprecedented challenges, it is crucial that we have strong allies in 
the world. One such ally is Kazakhstan, a country that throughout its 
short history of independence has demonstrated a true commitment to our 
principles and ideals of building a safe and prosperous world.
  Against the backdrop of modem threats of catastrophic terrorism with 
the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), Kazakhstan has 
voluntarily renounced the world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal it 
inherited from the former Soviet Union, has shut down the world's 
largest nuclear test site and has been actively working with the United 
States in the fight against international terrorism.
  Kazakhstan's example can be used as a response to aspirations by 
rogue states to develop WMD to impose their interests in the world. 
This is why I believe we need to actively spread the story of 
Kazakhstan's responsible international conduct and its strong 
cooperation with the United States that is of exceptional significance 
to settle today's most critical international problems.
  As a key state for our interests in the center of Eurasia, Kazakhstan 
was one of the first to support us in the tragic days after September 
11 and is providing concrete assistance in the Operation Enduring 
Freedom in Afghanistan. Kazakhstan, sharing our interest in securing 
stability in Iraq and its surroundings after Operation Iraqi Freedom, 
is also sending its military medical personnel to join the 
International Coalition Stabilizing Force.
  Now is the time, I believe, for us to develop multifaceted 
cooperation with Kazakhstan, a strategic partner of the United States 
in the fight against terrorism and proliferation of WMD. Now is the 
time to support this young and perspective country of pro-Western 
orientation in its serious efforts to build a developed and prosperous 
society. Such a course will undoubtedly meet the interests of our two 
nations.
  On May 5, 2003, the Honorable Kanat Saudabayev, Ambassador of 
Kazakhstan, published an article in the Washington Times

[[Page E882]]

entitled ``Kazakhstan's contribution'' in which he addressed these 
issues in a most persuasive manner. I call upon my colleagues to read 
this article and request your permission to include it in the U.S. 
Congressional Record.

                       Kazakhstan's Contribution


               U.S. Should Strengthen Cooperation Efforts

                         (By Kanat Saudabayev)

       Although the recent PBS screening of ``Avoiding 
     Armageddon'' did mention Kazakhstan as a country that chose 
     to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), it was 
     disappointing that Americans were not fully informed of what 
     was behind that choice and what it means for global security.
       Kazakhstan's ``notable example'' of disarmament, as the 
     White House recently described it, could be used as a 
     counterweight to aspirations of some countries to develop WMD 
     as means to assert their interests in the world. I strongly 
     believe that Kazakhstan's story of responsible international 
     behavior and strong cooperation with the U.S. is of paramount 
     importance, as it might lead to solutions to today's most 
     acute international problems.
       In 1991, having suffered through almost 500 Soviet nuclear 
     tests that destroyed the lives of 1.5 million people, 
     Kazakhstan voluntarily renounced what would have been the 
     world's 4th nuclear arsenal and shut down the world's largest 
     nuclear test site at Semipalatinsk. Together with the United 
     States, we have since destroyed the remaining infrastructure 
     of the loathsome legacy of the Cold War. Amongst the most 
     graphic examples of our cooperation under the Nunn-Lugar 
     program have been Project Sapphire, which shipped more than 
     1,300 pounds of weapons-grade uranium from Kazakhstan to the 
     U.S., and the destruction of the world's largest anthrax 
     production and weaponization facility at Stepnogorsk.
       The path of history could have been different, however, had 
     President Nursultan Nazarbayev chosen to go with the 
     significant portion of Kazakhstan's elite that was in favor 
     of keeping the nuclear weapons as means to ostensibly gain 
     international respect.
       To the contrary, it was Mr. Nazarbayev's unswerving 
     commitment to disarmament during all these years that led 
     Kazakhstan to renounce the nuclear weapons, becoming a strong 
     disarmament advocate, and ultimately, gaining the recognition 
     as a peace-loving nation.
       Indeed, it is our policies that enabled Kazakhstan to 
     launch a new security organization for Asia with the 
     participation of the leaders of 16 nations. At its inaugural 
     meeting in Almaty in June 2002, we hosted the presidents of 
     China, Russia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the prime 
     minister of India and others. At the height of a crisis 
     between New Delhi and Islamabad, their leaders sat at one 
     table and were able to directly listen to each other. This 
     event became Kazakhstan's important contribution to the 
     reduction of tensions between the two nuclear powers of 
     the subcontinent.
       ``Countries like Kazakhstan that have renounced nuclear 
     weapons for all time provide an example and can provide 
     valuable leadership on these issues,'' former Sen. Sam Nunn 
     said this month at a Washington conference. ``One of the 
     things I hope we can do is pay some real attention, and put 
     in a leadership role, to countries that have given up nuclear 
     weapons.''
       I couldn't agree more. We believe our example should become 
     international public knowledge and a factor in dealing with 
     threshold countries.
       Though our disarmament might seem something of the distant 
     past, it also relates directly to present challenges to 
     global security.
       We still need to take care of what Mr. Nunn calls the human 
     factor. As we moved to disarm and destroy the military 
     infrastructure, scores of experienced nuclear scientists and 
     biological specialists and their families, were left 
     lingering in ghost towns with neither proper jobs nor means 
     to live. They can be instrumental in commercial projects of 
     conversion in such areas as the peaceful use of atomic energy 
     and biotechnologies. The help from the United States will not 
     only give them an opportunity to peacefully apply their 
     skills, but will also strengthen our joint 
     counterproliferation efforts at a time when numerous 
     countries and terrorist groups continue to seek WMD.
       Our cooperation with the United States in nonproliferation 
     and fighting terrorism has served as a strong foundation for 
     our relations, dubbed ``strategic partnership'' by Presidents 
     Nursultan Nazarbayev and George Bush.
       The people of Kazakhstan were outraged by the horrific 
     attacks of September 11, and we have worked closely with the 
     United States in bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan. 
     As of now, more than 1,000 coalition aircraft have flown over 
     Kazakhstan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. We have 
     provided our major airport for the use by U.S. Air Force, and 
     significantly expanded the cooperation between our armed 
     forces and intelligence services.
       We have supported the American-led efforts to disarm Saddam 
     Hussein, who failed to present clear evidence of the 
     disarmament of Iraq and hence bore the full responsibility 
     for the military action. Today, we stand united in bringing 
     stability to that country and the region.
       It is crucial then that in this fragile time, policy-makers 
     and people of both Kazakhstan and the United States make 
     strong efforts to support our cooperation further. This will 
     bode well with the long-term interests of both nations and 
     will help us build a safer and more prosperous world.

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