MINISTER: OUTDATED NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN ARMENIA IMPOSES THREAT FOR TURKEY

Trend
March 17 2011
Azerbaijan

Outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is a threat of radioactive
contamination for Turkey, the Minister of Environment and Forests of
Turkey Veysel Eroglu said, website of CNN Turk reported.

The Metsamor nuclear power plant , which began its work in 1976 ,
is located in a seismically active area approximately 30 kilometers
west of Yerevan. After the devastating earthquake in Spitak in
1988, the Armenian authorities decided to close the Metsamor NPP,
but economic straits forced the country’s leadership to restore the
plant’s activity in 1993.

Answering the question about how to secure the construction of
nuclear power plants in Turkey, which is located in a seismically
active zone, the Minister replied that even if the country does not
build nuclear power plants, Turkey is not free from the danger of
radioactive contamination.

“There is an outdated nuclear power plant in Armenia in 26 kilometers
from the border with Turkey. So the risk is still present. During
the construction of nuclear power plant, it is important to choose a
suitable place for this, use advanced technologies, taking into account
the risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and other calamities,” Eroglu said.

During a press conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday Turkey will
not call off its plans to build nuclear power plants despite the
ongoing nuclear crisis in Japan.

“I have already said that the earthquakes are possible anywhere,
and our country is located in a seismic area. We take the necessary
measures to ensure that those facilities that we are building would
be the most safe,” he said.

Erdogan added that “during the construction of nuclear power plant,
we will also take the necessary measures so that these facilities
withstand 8 to 9 point earthquake”.

From: A. Papazian