[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 43 (Thursday, March 17, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   GOVERNMENT OF KAZAKHSTAN'S COMMITMENT TO NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2016

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, the Government of Kazakhstan has been 
tireless in its commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. The 
steadfastness their government has shown in this area is a key part of 
our bilateral relationship and a clear example of Kazakhstan's 
leadership to the global community. This issue is particularly timely 
as the President of Kazakhstan; Nursultan Nazarbayev will be 
participating in the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC 
on March 31st and April 1st.
  President Nazarbayev's efforts to lead Kazakhstan to unilaterally 
surrender its nuclear stockpile under the Cooperative Threat Reduction 
Program were historic and helped to create today's non-proliferation 
framework. More recently, Kazakhstan together with the International 
Atomic Energy Agency and other outside partners established the world's 
first Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Fuel Bank. This Fuel Bank, which 
Kazakhstan has committed to support through facilities and resources as 
the host nation, provides a secondary market for LEU to guarantee that 
all nations have an energy source for peaceful civilian nuclear power--
and as importantly--have no reason to develop nuclear enrichment 
technologies of their own.
  Additionally, Kazakhstan is preparing to host an international 
exposition in the city of Astana next year titled, Expo 2017. The theme 
will be ``future energy'' and include contributions from national 
governments, non-governmental organizations and private companies on 
how mankind can provide the power to support ever increasing levels of 
human development.
  Lastly, this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan's 
independence after the Soviet Union and the start of bilateral 
relations with the United States. We mark this occasion in celebration 
of what has been achieved and note the areas where will can seek 
progress. The U.S. commitment to Kazakhstan and the region will 
continue to endure and taking steps such as repealing the outdated 
Jackson-Vanik restrictions will help to maintain the strong 
relationship. As we mark this occasion I look forward to a bright 
future.

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