NTI Vice Chair Des Browne Gives Remarks at Nazarbayev Prize Ceremony in Kazakhstan

NTI Vice Chair Des Browne spoke today at the Nazarbayev Prize ceremony
in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The award was given to Lassina Zerbo, executive secretary
of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) and,
posthumously, to Yukiya Amano, who was serving as director general of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) when he died in July. 

In his remarks, Browne addressed the impact of NTI’s work with the
late head of the IAEA, noting: “NTI had the honor of working closely with
Director General Amano and his team for more than 10 years on the IAEA Low
Enriched Uranium Bank here in Kazakhstan. The realization of the LEU bank is an
example of his leadership and commitment to building a safer world for future
generations. This year we look forward to the delivery of uranium to the bank,
making it operational and realizing the vision that we have shared for more
than a decade. NTI will be forever grateful for Director General Amano’s commitment
to this project and to global nuclear nonproliferation and we extend our
heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, who will all miss
him dearly.”

Browne hailed Zerbo as an “indefatigable champion of the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty” and highlighted the importance of work
the IAEA, CTBTO and NTI are doing to address today’s dangers. “During these
unsettled times, the global community must do everything it can to reduce
nuclear risks and preserve and strengthen the treaties and agreements that
prohibit nuclear proliferation and nuclear testing and advance nuclear
disarmament. The IAEA and the CTBTO are central to this mission, and we owe an
enormous debt of gratitude to the leaders of these organizations whom we are
honoring today for their enduring contributions to keeping humanity safe from
nuclear catastrophe.”

Read the full speech here.