PHOTO: Anti-nuclear rally was held in the rain in Semei

A rally was held in Semei on August 28 as part of the International conference called From Nuclear Test Ban to Nuclear Weapons Free World. The rally was held on Polkovnichiy island and was attended by over 100 delegates from 75 countries, Tengrinews.kz reports. It was raining for the whole day but the event was held as planed except for residents getting a little wet while waiting for it to begin. The event started with a ceremony of laying flowers to the memorial Stronger than Death by oblast Akim (Governor) Berdybek Saparbayev. It was followed by the ceremony of putting the capsule for construction of a unique Peace Museum that is intended to call the humanity to peace and friendship. The museum will be completed by August 2013. “Residents of Semipalatinsk know very well about the nuclear tests and still feel their consequences,” Saparbayev said. “After Kazakhstan gained the independence Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev made it a priority to render social support to Kazakhstan citizens, especially those who suffered from the effects of the nuclear test site.” “We think that Mister Nursultan Nazarbayev deserves a Noble Prize,” deputy of Japanese Parliament Hiroyuki Moriyama said. “We call everyone to support the idea that is already supported by many Japanese deputies. I hope that we will get this good news this autumn.” “The history shows that both of our countries are sworn brothers in countering nuclear weapons,” vice-chairman of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Paul Dewar said. “I think that we, leaders of the countries, have to pursue aggressive policies against use of weapons of mass destruction in the world. We admire what Kazakhstan and your leader have done. And we all have to show the world what your country has achieved by closing the nuclear test site 21 years ago.” Besides, the guests visited an oncological hospital, a state medical university and the Scientific-Research Institute of Radiation Medicine and Ecology and took a tour of Kurchatov town.