Nuclear-free world doesn’t imply renunciation of peaceful use of nuclear energy: President Nazarbayev

The idea of nuclear-free world doesn’t imply renunciation of peaceful use of nuclear energy, Newskaz.ru reports, citing President Nazarbayev as saying August 29. “Kazakhstan’s stance on nuclear-free world has nothing to do with radiophobia or the idea of abandoning the energy of splitting atoms. Nuclear-free world is a complete ban on using nuclear energy for military purposes. This is the core of my suggestion to draft a UN nuclear-free world declaration”, he said at a major anti-nuclear conference in Astana. According to him, the 21st century is unconceivable without nuclear energy. “According to the nuclear power industry experts, the global demand for power will double by 2030; currently up to 2 billion people have no access to power grids. Peaceful use of nuclear energy translates into tackling poverty, unemployment and food shortages for many. Undoubtedly, such projects should be implemented under the scrutiny of the UN and the IAEA”, President Nazarbayev believes. “Nuclear-free world isn’t achievable overnight. But we should proceed towards it and encourage all nations to support the cause. I have always been an advocate of the nuclear-free world”, he summed up.