At a time when the international community is seeing a renewal of big-power rivalry and debating the pros and cons of nuclear technology, the initiative of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev in establishing the Nazarbayev Prize for a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World and Global Security is both prescient and timely.
It will be an excellent contribution to global peace and stability. The nations of the world must continue to engage in meaningful dialogue, strengthen lasting cooperation and work for the well being of all peoples.
Kazakhstan has long been one of the champions of nuclear disarmament and world peace. President Nazarbayev has made much effort personally to seek consensus and practical results. We applaud President Nazarbayev’s latest initiative, establishing a special prize highlighting the need for global and regional security.
The decision to award the Nazarbayev Prize for a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World and Global Security to King Abdullah II of Jordan is most fitting. King Abdullah II has worked tirelessly to secure peace and stability in the Middle East. His care and concern for the innocent civilians displaced by armed conflicts should be recognised and exemplified to help the cause of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. We congratulate King Abdullah II for being conferred this honour.
The author is Ambassador-at-Large at the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Executive Deputy Chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
