[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7610-7611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 122--RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC EFFORTS OF THE REPUBLIC 
   OF KAZAKHSTAN TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 
  THROUGH COOPERATION IN THE NUNN-LUGAR/COOPERATIVE THREAT REDUCTION 
  PROGRAM, AND CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REMOVAL OF ALL 
            NUCLEAR WEAPONS FROM THE TERRITORY OF KAZAKHSTAN

  Mr. LUGAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 122

       Whereas at the time of the collapse of the Union of Soviet 
     Socialist Republics in December 1991, 1,410 nuclear warheads 
     on heavy intercontinental ballistic missiles, air-launched 
     cruise missiles, and heavy bombers were located within the 
     Republic of Kazakhstan;
       Whereas, on July 2, 1992, the parliament of Kazakhstan 
     approved and made Kazakhstan a party to the Treaty on the 
     Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, with 
     annexes, protocols and memorandum of understanding, signed at 
     Moscow July 31, 1991, and entered into force December 5, 1994 
     (commonly known as the ``START Treaty'');
       Whereas, on February 14, 1995, Kazakhstan formally acceded 
     to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 
     done at Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968, and 
     entered into force March 5, 1970 (commonly known as the 
     ``Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty'');
       Whereas, on December 13, 1993, the Government of Kazakhstan 
     signed the Safe and Secure Dismantlement Act (SSD) and its 5 
     implementing agreements with the United States, and became 
     eligible to receive $85,000,000 in assistance under the Nunn-
     Lugar/Cooperative Threat Reduction Program;
       Whereas the decision of the people and the Government of 
     Kazakhstan to transfer all nuclear weapons from the territory 
     of Kazakhstan to the control of the Russian Federation 
     allowed Kazakhstan to become a non-nuclear-weapon State Party 
     to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty;
       Whereas the continuing efforts of the Government of 
     Kazakhstan to pursue cooperative efforts with the United 
     States and other countries to secure, eliminate, destroy, or 
     interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction and their 
     means of delivery provides a model for such efforts; and
       Whereas, in April 1995, the Government of Kazakhstan 
     formally transferred the last nuclear warhead from the 
     territory of Kazakhstan to the territory of the Russian 
     Federation: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate commends, on the occasion of the 
     10th anniversary of the removal of the last nuclear warhead 
     from the territory of Kazakhstan, the people and the 
     Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan for their historic 
     decision to rid Kazakhstan of nuclear weapons.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today I submit a Senate resolution to 
celebrate the decision made by Kazakhstan to join the Nuclear 
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapon state. Ten years 
ago this month Kazakhstan sent the last Soviet nuclear warhead on its 
territory to Russia.
  With the Review Conference on the NPT in New York starting next week, 
it is an especially important time to note the progress made toward the 
NPT's goals, with U.S. assistance, in Kazakhstan.
  More than a decade ago, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Kazakhstan 
became the fourth largest nuclear power in the world. But instead of 
enlarging the nuclear club, Kazakhstan joined Ukraine and Belarus in 
turning away from weapons of mass destruction. Courageous leaders chose 
instead to embrace the NPT in removing all nuclear arms from 
Kazakhstan.
  The world cheered when Kazakhstan formally acceded to the NPT. I am 
proud of the role the United States played in Kazakhstan's decision and 
of our role in facilitating the removal of thousands of nuclear 
warheads and the elimination of hundreds of SS-18 intercontinental 
ballistic missiles, silos, and command centers. The addition of three 
more nuclear-armed states would have been a devastating setback for the 
NPT.
  It is particularly important that the Senate draw attention to 
Kazakhstan's wise and brave choice, as it stands in stark contrast to 
events in India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Iran. In 1998, the world 
was shocked by the testing of nuclear weapons in India and Pakistan. In 
January 2003, the durability of the NPT was shaken by North Korea's 
purported withdrawal. We have watched

[[Page 7611]]

for the past two years as the IAEA deliberated over Iran's numerous 
safeguards violations amid Tehran's threats of withdrawal from the NPT 
should the body seek to enforce the treaty's provisions.
  With these events in mind, we should remember Kazakhstan. Instead of 
violating international norms and retaining nuclear weapons, Kazakh 
leaders made the right choice. When searching for success stories, the 
international community can turn to Kazakhstan.
  The Nunn-Lugar Program also assisted Kazakhstan in eliminating the 
former Soviet nuclear weapons testing complex at the Degelen Mountain 
Test Tunnel Complex and at Balapan. In close cooperation with Kazakh 
partners, the Nunn-Lugar program systematically dismantled the complex 
and sealed nearly 200 nuclear test tunnels and shafts. These facilities 
will never again contribute to the weapons systems that threatened the 
world during the Cold War.
  The United States, Kazakhstan, and the international community still 
have much work to do and these efforts will require compromise and 
sacrifice. The last ten years have shown that nothing is impossible. 
Both sides have set aside past differences to accomplish this 
cooperation. Let us continue to approach these challenges with 
creativity, a willingness to cooperate, and a commitment to the NPT.

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