Threat to Strike the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is Nothing but a Crime Against Humanity - Papikyan

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, Suren Papikyan, delivered a speech at the 64th General Conference of the IAEA, from which we present an excerpt:

“In these challenging times of fighting the coronavirus, Armenia has faced an extremely dangerous and unprecedented challenge to the security of our country and the entire region. I am referring to the real threat of a missile strike on the Metsamor nuclear power plant, voiced by a representative of a neighboring state. For the first time, we are confronting a situation where the actual threat to the security of a nuclear plant comes not from a terrorist organization but from a state, through its official representative. Moreover, from a state that positions itself as a responsible member of the international community and a full-fledged subject of international relations.

Unfortunately, to this day, the international community lacks effective deterrent mechanisms to prevent potential threats to the safety of nuclear power plants posed by any state, as well as to respond effectively and timely to threats that have already been voiced.

The threat raised by the official representative of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense regarding a strike on the Metsamor nuclear plant during armed clashes on the northeastern direction of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border is nothing but a crime against humanity and must receive an appropriate response from the international community.

Armenia will continue to exert all possible efforts to prevent such threats in the future.

Dear delegates, on September 21, we celebrate the 29th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia. Since declaring its independence, joining the UN and other international organizations, and establishing partnership relations with friendly countries, Armenia has consistently supported the policy of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the peaceful use of atomic energy. Based on these principles, the Armenian government has established close cooperation with the IAEA on a wide range of issues related to nuclear safety, including physical protection of nuclear facilities.”