The Issue of the 'Safety' of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant Raised in the Turkish Parliament

Deniz Yavuzyılmaz, a member of the main opposition Kemalist 'Republican People's Party' in Turkey, has submitted a question regarding the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant to Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay. Yavuzyılmaz demanded an answer regarding what preventive measures Turkey has undertaken internationally concerning the nuclear power plant located very close to its borders and what initiatives it has taken, as reported by Ermenihaber.

To respond to the inquiry, the Vice President sought the necessary information from Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who then provided the response received from the Foreign Ministry. It was noted in the response that the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant does not meet modern safety requirements.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry's response stated that the plant is monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been working to address safety issues stemming from structural deficiencies since the plant's re-commissioning. It was emphasized that Turkey cannot initiate the closure of the plant, as the authority to close any nuclear power plant belongs solely to the respective country.

However, the response referenced several initiatives taken by Turkey on the international stage against the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. 'During the meetings for the review of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, Turkey presented that the nuclear power plant, located in a region prone to natural disasters, is situated very close to Turkish territory and operates with outdated technologies, posing a risk factor for the entire region,' stated the Foreign Ministry's communication.