IAEA approves Kazakhstan’s entry into Far East Regional Group

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has approved Kazakhstan’s admission to its Far East Regional Group, enabling the country to take part in the work of the agency’s governing bodies, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan welcomes the decision, announced today at the meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, to include Kazakhstan in the agency’s Far East Regional Group. Kazakhstan’s accession to the regional group marks a significant step toward restoring the sovereign equality of states within the IAEA,” the ministry stated, as per TASS.

The ministry expressed gratitude to the member countries of the Far East Group for supporting Kazakhstan’s bid and acknowledged their efforts to advance sovereign equality within the agency.

“This decision opens the door for Kazakhstan to fully participate in the activities of the IAEA’s governing bodies. As an active contributor to international efforts aimed at creating a world free from the threat of weapons of mass destruction, our country remains committed to making a constructive contribution to the peaceful use of atomic energy, the responsible application of nuclear technologies, and the strengthening of international mechanisms of trust and transparency,” the statement continued.

Kazakhstan had nominated itself for the IAEA Board of Governors in September. According to the national atomic energy agency, the country had long sought membership in the IAEA’s Far East Regional Group, but “these consistent efforts had not yielded concrete results.”

In 2023, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Astana had succeeded in securing the adoption of a resolution on restoring equality among IAEA member states during the 67th IAEA General Conference.

By Tamilla Hasanova