Obama lauds S Africa, Kazakhstan for dismantling N-weapons

US President Barack Obama today applauded South Africa and Kazakhstan for dismantling their nuclear weapons programmes.

Obama, who met South African President Jacob Zuma and his Kazakhstan counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev at the Blair House on the eve of the Nuclear Security Summit took the opportunity to praise both the nations for dismantling their nuclear weapons programmes.

"I wanted to publicly compliment President Zuma and his administration for the leadership they have shown. And we are looking forward toward the possibility of them helping to guide other countries down a similar direction of non-proliferation," Obama told reporters after the meeting with Zuma.

"President Obama welcomed President Jacob Zuma to Washington to discuss nuclear security, as well as other topics of mutual interest. The President acknowledged South Africa's historical leadership in this arena, demonstrating its peaceful nuclear intentions by the dismantling of its nuclear weapons programme," the White House said in a statement.

"President Obama urged President Zuma to continue to use South Africa's unique authority on this issue to advance nuclear security and nonproliferation.

He also reiterated the US position that while America supports Iran’s peaceful nuclear ambitions, Iran is refusing to uphold its international responsibilities and this requires a strong and unified international response. The presidents agreed to remain in close contact on these critical issues," the statement added.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Zimbabwe, and agreed on the importance of continued international engagement to forge a path to elections in which the civil and political rights of the Zimbabwean people will be respected.

They also took the opportunity to talk about important security issues, including efforts to combat terrorism, the White House said.

Obama thanked Nazarbayev for his offer to host an International Nuclear Fuel Bank and expressed his support for Kazakhstan's intention to become a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, another statement said.

A joint statement issued by Obama and Nazarbayev said the two leaders pledged to intensify bilateral cooperation to promote nuclear safety and non-proliferation, regional stability in Central Asia, economic prosperity, and universal values.

The two presidents underlined the 15-year track record of close cooperation between Kazakhstan and the US and success in reducing nuclear threats in Kazakhstan and around the world.

"They share the vision of a world without nuclear weapons. The US appreciates the leadership of President Nazarbayev and the contribution of Kazakhstan to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation," the joint statement said.

"The leaders noted with satisfaction the successful implementation of the Cooperative Threat Reduction program and continued cooperation, including on the decommissioning of the BN-350 nuclear reactor at Aktau and the construction of a central reference laboratory in Almaty.

Cooperation also proceeds on the conversion of the research reactor in Alatau and the elimination of highly enriched uranium stored there, as called for in the Nuclear Security Summit Communique," it said.