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Kazakhstan occupies a pivotal space of great geo-strategic importance. It is the only Central Asian republic that shares borders with both Russia (over 4,000 miles) and China (nearly 1,000 miles). Its western border is the Caspian Sea. Its other Central Asian neighbors are Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. Situated in a difficult region challenged by extremist forces, Kazakhstan acts as an important source of ethnic harmony, natural resources, and political stability. A Stabilizing Influence: One of the fifteen new states to emerge from the Soviet empire in 1991, Kazakhstan soon became a leader in dealing with two potentially destabilizing legacies of the Soviet era - - it had the world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal and a diverse mix of over 100 ethnic groups. Closing its nuclear test site in 1991 and courageously Rremoving all its nuclear warheads by 1996, Kazakhstan became the first state in history to complete voluntary nuclear disarmament. Committed to ensuring a peaceful transition, Kazakhstan has created an open environment for all its nationalities including the Russians, who make up a substantial minority, to build a nation based on democratic and free market principles. Kazakhstan acts as an anchor of stability in an often-unpredictable region threatened by extremist forces of religious fundamentalism and terrorism. In the wake of September 11, Kazakhstan has been in the front ranks of countries supporting and facilitating U.S. efforts in Central Asia and in the war against terrorism. A Model Non-Proliferation State: Taking the historic step to dismantle its nuclear arsenal, Kazakhstan provides an example of responsible behavior in the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Kazakhstan adheres to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards regime. Kazakhstan was the first former Soviet state to pass legislation creating non-proliferation export controls. Kazakhstan has been outspoken in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons technology and is an active proponent of the creation of a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone (NWFZ) in Central Asia. A Crucial
Energy Supplier: With potential oil reserves of 100 billion barrels
and on a par with Kuwait, Kazakhstan will provide world markets with an
alternative energy supply, to be delivered via pipelines using multiple
routes. |
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