TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS PROTEST AGAINST ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Aug 6 2007
Igdir, 6 August: Members of several non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) gathered in the eastern Turkish city of Igdir to draw attention
to hazards of nuclear power plants.
They also demanded closure of the Metsamor nuclear power plant in
Armenia, which is situated only 16 kilometres away from the Turkish
border.
Speaking on behalf of the protestors, The Association of Health
Workers For Peace and Environment Against Nuclear Jeopardy (Nused)
secretary-general, Derman Boztokm said, "Global nuclear energy lobbies
put pressure on the developing countries to use nuclear energy instead
of renewable energy for their own financial benefits."
"Whole eastern and southeastern Anatolia would be affected in case of
an accident at the Metsamor nuclear power plant. The plant was declared
as the most dangerous power plant in the world by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the EU. This power plant should be
shut down as soon as possible," he said.
The Metsamor Nuclear power plant was built in 1970s, about 30
kilometres west of the Armenian capital of Yerevan. The plant was
constructed with two VVER-440 Model V230 nuclear reactors and the
technology used at the time was no longer compatible with modern
safety standards.
The power plant produces about 40 per cent of Armenia’s electricity.
It was closed due to the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. However, energy
shortages in Armenia compelled the Armenian government to reopen the
plant in 1993.
The EU continues to encourage the Armenian government to shut down
the Metsamor power plant but the Armenian government first wants
to acquire enough alternative sources of energy to compensate for a
shutdown of the reactor.