OSC VIEWS NUCLEAR COMMERCE IN KAZAKHSTAN

"Kazakhstan, which is second only to Australia in uranium reserves and
exceptionally appealing to nuclear nations that require uranium, has
entered into agreements or joint ventures with many countries and
corporations," a new analysis from the DNI Open Source Center observes.

Kazakhstan has embarked on cooperative civilian nuclear projects with
countries including the U.S., Russia, China, Brazil, Canada, France,
India, and others, possibly including Iran.

"Some serious issues lurk behind the veneer of the government's political
and commercial success," the OSC analysis says. These include "an unclear
line of power succession,... which could facilitate nuclear deals with
international partners with mixed proliferation records."

"The country is corrupt and has corrupt practices," the OSC declares.
"Kazakhstan's mineral riches have supplied many a thief with wealth."  See
"Kazakhstan -- Opening Up for Nuclear Collaboration," Open Source Center,
October 6, 2009:

 

Kazakhstan relinquished the nuclear weapons that it inherited from the
former Soviet Union in  1995.  It has also accepted IAEA safeguards and
the Additional Protocol.