VERTIC in conjunction with The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) held the 3rd Workshop within the Project ‘Building Capacity on Multilateral Verification of Nuclear Disarmament’ on July 15-16.

Such a project focuses on harnessing, developing, and sustaining expertise and capacity on nuclear disarmament verification (NDV) in regions around the world. This work will complement the efforts being undertaken in Kazakhstan to engage in research and development activities on nuclear disarmament verification as well as support Kazakhstan’s participation in official fora such as UNGA and the Group of Governmental Experts on the role of verification to advance nuclear disarmament and other international initiatives.

Presentations included ‘Kazakhstan’s Experience in Monitoring Nuclear Explosions and Earthquakes by a Network of Seismic and Infrasound Stations in Support of the CTBT’, ‘The Decommissioning of the BN-530 Reactor’ and a comprehensive discussion on the project of the future NDV centre under this project: organizational framework, functional goals, promotion of participation and means of developing sustainable activities, interest and finances in the medium and long term.

Representatives from inter alia the Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy, the Nuclear Technology and Safety Centre, the National Nuclear Centre, the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kazatomprom, the Uzbekistan’s EU Centre of Excellence, academia and NGOs participated in the meeting.