ADIL GARIBOV: ARMENIA WILL NEVER CLOSE METSAMOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, SINCE IT DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE ITS IMAGE AS A NUCLEAR COUNTRY
APA
Nov 10 2011
Azerbaijan
“In 10-15 years with the support of Russia Armenia can have nuclear
weapons”
Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. “Even if Azerbaijan gives twice as much
oil to Armenia than it consumes, Yerevan will never close Metsamor
Nuclear Power Plant, because this plant is a strategic facility for
Armenia, it means a special image. Armenia is a nuclear country,
it was the first nuclear country in the South Caucasus with the help
of Russia,” director of Radiation Problems Institute of Azerbaijan
Academy of Sciences Adil Garibov told APA.
According to him, if alternative energy sources are found in Armenia,
the statements that Metsamor nuclear power plant will be closed are
nothing but a political game.
“Armenia will never do it. Armenia does not want to lose its image as a
nuclear country. I am afraid in 10-15 years with the support of Russia
Armenia will be among the countries having nuclear weapons,” he said.
Garibov said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) carried out
examination concerning the observation of safety rules in Metsamor
nuclear power plant. Now the nuclear power plant is not functioning,
prophylactic repair is being done there.
“The countries of the region appealed to the International Atomic
Energy Agency saying the plant is old, it was opened in the 80s of the
past century. The zone is seismic, the Fukusima disaster can happen
there, too. Armenia has no economic potential to use the technologies
used by Japan. The neighboring states are afraid of this. We have
warned the International Atomic Energy Agency about it. More than
40 percent of the reactors in the world are in this condition. The
accident in Fukusima happened in the first and third reactors built in
the 70s. Our concern is grounded. No state has the right to interfere
with the other sovereign state’s right to use atomic energy. But in
critical situation this reactor raises doubts. The countries of the
region are concerned about it,” he said.