ASTANA, Kazakhstan –

On 29-30 August, Ambassador Petko Draganov, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Head of UNRCCA, visited Kazakhstan in order to participate in the high level international conference "Building a Nuclear-Free-World".

At the conference he delivered a keynote presentation focusing on challenges related to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the response of Central Asian states to these challenges. According to Ambassador Petko Draganov the establishment of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in Central Asia is an excellent example of cooperation and prevention. The SRSG underlined "it should certainly serve as an example to be followed in other parts of the world, but as well in Central Asia itself, where the same constructive and cooperative approach could be used in tackling the other challenges to peace, security and development facing the region".