OREANDA-NEWS. October 1, 2009. Representatives of UN regional agencies: UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, IAEA, UN Volunteers and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RK gathered at the round table to effectively follow up to the GA resolution on Semipalatinsk.

The year 2009 is remarkable in relation to the former nuclear test polygon of Semipalatinsk – it marks the 60th anniversary of the start of the nuclear test, 20th anniversary since the moratorium of nuclear explosions, and 10th anniversary of the Tokyo International Conference where international stakeholders gathered to discuss assistance to the population of Semipalatinsk. In addition, the UN General Assembly adopted the 6th resolution on Semipalatinsk (A/RES/63/279) on 24 April 2009.

"The general Assembly has accepted 6 resolutions within 1997- 2009, urging the international community to assist the government and the people of Kazakhstan in its efforts on rehabilitation of Semipalatinsk nuclear range. However, low capacity in governance, limited participation of civil society in decision making, lack of coordination among international donors and between the Government and the international community hinder greater achievements. Today, the situation in the former Semipalatinsk region remains serious and its population still affected in many ways by 40 years of nuclear test. The recent GA resolution ?Calls upon the international community, including all Member States, in particular donor States, and United Nations institutions to continue to support Kazakhstan in addressing the challenges of the rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk region and its population.” - says Haoliang Xu, UN Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.

Since the closure of the test ground, the Government of Kazakhstan has developed a number of major programmes and implemented numerous projects to address the problems of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Significant assistance has been provided in the areas of medicine, radiology, science and social welfare. The international community, including the United Nations agencies, has also delivered a substantial amount of assistance after the Tokyo conference in 1999.

During the round table representatives of the National Nuclear Centre of the RK have presented a situation analysis on radiation and social and economic situation on the territory of the test site as well as a new government program on rehabilitation of the Semipalatinsk Test Site.

Interested UN agencies took stock of what has been done and discussed the role the UN can play in developing and implementing a new vision of development for Semipalatinsk in the near future.