OSCE Academy hosts Guest Lecture dedicated to the first International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness

On March 28, 2023, the OSCE Academy hosted a guest lecture on "Nuclear Proliferation Challenges and Nonproliferation Opportunities” by Prof. William Potter, Director, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar Professor of Nonproliferation Studies Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. This event was held on the occasion of the first International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness and initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Dr. Elena Zhirukhina moderated the lecture, which was attended by the MA students of the OSCE Academy, students and faculty of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

Dr. Indira Satarkulova, Acting Director of the OSCE Academy, welcomed the students and guests of the lecture and highlighted that the Academy is proud to serve as a platform for the discussion of this subject presented by Prof. William Potter. Mr. Ulan Daniyarov, Deputy Director of the Department for International Organizations and Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, extended his greetings and noted that education is an important tool for peace-building and disarmament. "Our main goal is to instill in people the knowledge and skills that would enable them to contribute to the implementation of concrete disarmament and non-proliferation measures and achieving the ultimate goal of complete disarmament under effective international control," said Mr. Daniyarov.

Following the welcoming remarks, Prof. Potter delivered his lecture and provided valuable insights into the ongoing challenges related to nuclear proliferation and the opportunities for nonproliferation efforts. Prof. Potter highlighted the importance of international cooperation and mentioned that the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness could help focus attention on the need to act quickly to counter widespread ignorance and complacency about disarmament and nonproliferation. Students were very much interested in the lecture and used the opportunity to ask their questions during the discussion session.

The OSCE Academy expresses its gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic for the provided opportunity.

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