ARMENIANS MULL IDEA OF TURKEY’S PARTICIPATION IN BUILDING NEW NUCLEAR PLANT
Aravot
Electric Light & Power/ Utility Automation & Engineering T&D Magazine
s_story.cfm?Section=WireNews&Category=HOME& ;NewsID=175814
March 24 2009
Mar 11, 2009 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) — According to some economic
experts, Turkey has already suggested to Armenia that it participate
in the construction of a new unit of Armenia’s nuclear power station.
Speaking about the idea of the construction of a new nuclear power
plant at the 6th international economic forum on 21 February [in
Armenia], Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said it would have the role
of a "stabiliser" in the region. Sargsyan said the government was
interested in Turkey’s and Russia’s participation in this project. The
prime minister said: "We are ready for dialogue and discussions
with them".
Several economic experts and political figures criticized the prime
minister’s statement. Some believe that Turkey’s participation in
the construction of the nuclear power plant’s new unit would not be
appropriate economically or politically. Moreover, this would have
a negative impact on relations between the two countries.
Political expert Andranik Tevanyan told Aravot that the prime
minister’s suggestion would be a surprise for the Turks. He said:
"We invite the Turks to take part in the construction of the nuclear
power plant: I believe this will be a surprise for them and they will
not know what to do in response. I am sure that this statement [by the
prime minister] will be disavowed some time later, the same way the
statements regarding the rouble zone were disavowed. We have already
such an experience. Any project can be announced and then disowned."
[Passage omitted: Tevanyan says that the idea of setting up a Public
Council (after 2008 post election unrest) and setting up a joint
Armenian-Turkish commission to study the Armenian genocide have also
been abandoned.]
The head of the Centre for Economic Cooperation and Research, Gagik
Torosyan, believes it is very realistic that Turkey can make investment
in Armenia for the construction of a new energy block.
[Passage omitted: Torosyan says that Turkey’s investment in Armenia
is realistic.]
Aravot also tried to find out Energy and National Resources Minister
Armen Movsisyan’s position on Turkey’s participation in the new energy
block of the power plant. The information service of the ministry told
Aravot that the minister considers possible the participation of all
countries, including Turkey, which will be able to make corresponding
financial investments.
The Agency of State Procurements has already announced an open
tender of management services with the purpose of the construction
of the new nuclear energy block. All persons, irrespective of being a
foreigner or not, any organization or any person without citizenship
can participate in the tender.