Azerbaijan calls to stop operation of Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant
New-York, April 23 (AZERTAC). Azerbaijan shares concern of the international community on increasing nuclear threats and risks. Our country has attached great importance to ensuring nuclear security since the first days of independence, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the UN Agshin Mehdiyev said at the UN Security Council briefing on nuclear security.
The US-initiated briefing aimed to remind the UN member countries on their duties to take effective measures in accordance with the Security Council`s resolutions to prevent terrorists from the access to the nuclear materials and technical aid. It was a continuation of the summit of the US for nuclear security and prevention of weapon of mass annihilation.
Mehdiyev stated that taking into consideration its geographical location Azerbaijan pays serious attention to the prevention of illicit trafficking in radioactive materials through its territory. Azerbaijan formed an excellent legal base to control the import based on the cooperation with the international partners and international standards. But, unfortunately, lasting occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia makes the control over the significant distance of the state border impossible. The Ambassador underlined that nuclear security and prevention of weapon of mass annihilation are issues of related with each other. He expressed hope that Azerbaijan`s proposal on making the South Caucasus region the nuclear-free zone would be supported both by the neighboring countries and international community. From this point of view the existence of outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia raises serious concern. The diplomat stressed that reactor of this Power Plant was considered as the most insecure reactor among the six Soviet Union`s reactors in the USSR and Eastern Europe region according to the international experts. Moreover, there is no enough water resources to cool its reactor, as Metsamor is located in the high seismic zone. Taking into consideration all these facts the Azerbaijani side calls to stop operation of Metsamor immediately to prevent any tragic accident in the future.
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