MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - A treaty establishing a nuclear-free zone in Central Asia will contribute to the fight against terrorism in the region and prevent access by non-state actors to nuclear materials and technologies, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.
The treaty was signed Friday by five central Asian states - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
"The creation of a zone that is free from nuclear weapons in Central Asia is an important step aimed at strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime," the ministry said in a statement.
"Russia has always supported the course of the Central Asian states in creating a nuclear-free zone, and it welcomes the signing of the treaty," the statement said.
The treaty was prepared with the close assistance of the United Nations and under guidelines adopted by the UN Disarmament Commission in 1999.
