The Head of State thanked the authorities and the public of the city of Hiroshima for granting him the title of Special Honorary Citizen, calling it a sign of solidarity of Kazakhstan and Japan in the anti-nuclear movement.
- The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are a worldwide symbol of the struggle of humanity against mass destruction weapons. The whole world appreciates your efforts and invaluable contribution to building a world free of the nuclear arsenal, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that he visited Hiroshima to pay tribute to the tens of thousands of victims of the atomic bombing.
- A visit to Hiroshima and familiarity with the Memorial Peace Park exhibits once again reinforced my belief in the importance of the initiatives we have put forward in the field of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Being here in Hiroshima, seeing the horror of the effects of the atomic bomb, I urge the world leaders to renounce nuclear testing and prevent the recurrence of the nuclear tragedy, the Head of State said.
Nursultan Nazarbayev reminded that immeasurable damage to the Kazakh land and human health had been caused by continuous nuclear weapon tests at the Semipalatinsk test site, which lasted for more than four decades.
- The song "Zaman-ai" we have heard today sung by little Hiroshima citizens has become the symbol of spiritual closeness of our nations in strive to free the world community from the nuclear evil, the President of Kazakhstan said.
The Head of State called for applying best efforts to prevent such tragedies.
Nursultan Nazarbayev also noted that during the talks with Prime Minister Abe the agreement was reached on integrating efforts of the two countries for further action to organize the world free from the threat of mass destruction weapons.
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui on behalf of all residents of the city thanked Nursultan Nazarbayev for his visit, emphasizing that granting him the Special Honorary Citizen Title comes from the appreciation of his merits in the struggle for a nuclear-free world.
- You closed the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site on August 29, 1991, based on the wishes of the people of Kazakhstan. You came forward with the initiative to create a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia and to announce August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. You are at the forefront of organizing a world without nuclear weapons, K.Matsui said.
