Armenia has no intention of politicizing the drive for nuclear power and is willing to aid Turkey with nuclear power, Armenian officials have said.
“We have no intention whatsoever of turning the nuclear energy debate into a political issue and, as Armenian experts, we are willing to share our expertise and experience in nuclear energy with our Turkish and Russian peers,” Arthur Hovhannisyan, first deputy chairman of the Armenian State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee, says.
Turkish officials raising concerns over an aging nuclear power plant just over the border in Armenia merely do so out of political motives, former Armenian National Security Chairman Ashot Manucharyan said. “There is nothing to be worried about, we are carrying out studies and measurements meticulously.”
Turkey has long been concerned about the possible dangers of the Haygagan Atomagayan nuclear plant in Metsamor, just 16 kilometres from the Turkish border. Such worries are resurfacing following the recent nuclear catastrophe in Japan after a tsunami left the Fukushima reactor stricken and leaking radiation.
Hovhannisyan also said overt Turkish concern at the condition of the Metsamor plant was due to latent political motives.
“Leaving everything aside, it is impossible to have such a big earthquake in our region as they had in Japan, and even if we close the power plant down, we will never compromise security measures. Turkish people should have no doubts about that,” Manucharyan said.
“We are also showing utmost care not to cause a catastrophe like Chernobyl,” Manucharyan said.
Armenia also plans to build a new nuclear plant in the country in collaboration with Russia.
“It is not that we are building this new plant because the older one is a potential danger,” Hovhannisyan said. “On the contrary, we are investing for the future already knowing about our country’s forthcoming energy needs. It is interesting that as Turkey talks about our plant’s dangers, they are preparing for the launch of a nuclear plant [in Akkuyu in the southern province of Mersin].”
Hovhannisyan said he had been closely following the development of the Akkuyu plant which is also slated to be built in collaboration with Russia.
Manucharyan said Armenia absolutely needed a new reactor equipped with the latest technology to supply the country’s energy needs. “Unfortunately we cannot trust our neighbours” for energy, he added.
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