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SEIZED URANIUM NOT FROM ARMENIA, OFFICIAL INSISTS
Global Security Newswire
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20101118_7637.php
Nov 18 2010
A high-ranking Armenian official asserted on Tuesday that weapon-grade
uranium seized in March in Georgia from two Armenian nationals did
not come from his country, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported
(see GSN, Nov. 10).
State Committee on Nuclear Safety chief Ashot Martirosian said
nuclear security measures in Armenia were "at a level corresponding to
international standards," and the three-fifths of an ounce of highly
enriched uranium confiscated in the Georgian sting operation could
not have originated at the Metsamor nuclear energy plant or any other
corresponding site.
Armenian citizens Hrant Ohanian and Sumbat Tonoian were apprehended
in Tbilisi on smuggling charges. The two men pleaded guilty at a
closed-door hearing earlier this month.
Yerevan's National Security Service in April apprehended Armenian
citizen Garik Dadayan. He is suspected of passing the uranium to
Ohanian and Tonoian and has been charged under the nation's nuclear
trafficking law. Dadayan was detained seven years ago when he attempted
to cross into Georgia with 7 ounces of HEU material. He was returned
to Armenia and served a few months behind bars.
Georgian officials said the uranium Dadayan is accused of providing
to the two traffickers had an 87 percent enrichment grade.
"There is no such heavily enriched uranium in Armenia," Martirosian
told journalists. "Nuclear fuel used at the Armenian nuclear plant
is of three types: 1.6 percent (enriched uranium), 2.4 percent and
3.6 percent. That is the most enriched uranium existing in Armenia."
"All radioactive materials in Armenia, from the nuclear plant fuel to
several micrograms of nuclear materials used by various organizations,
are under the control of our agency and the International Atomic
Energy Agency," he insisted.
It is not certain the HEU material confiscated in Georgia came through
Armenia, he said.
A National Security Service spokesman said his agency was attempting to
determine the route the two traffickers took in bringing the uranium
into Georgia (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Nov. 17).
From: A. Papazian
Global Security Newswire
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20101118_7637.php
Nov 18 2010
A high-ranking Armenian official asserted on Tuesday that weapon-grade
uranium seized in March in Georgia from two Armenian nationals did
not come from his country, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported
(see GSN, Nov. 10).
State Committee on Nuclear Safety chief Ashot Martirosian said
nuclear security measures in Armenia were "at a level corresponding to
international standards," and the three-fifths of an ounce of highly
enriched uranium confiscated in the Georgian sting operation could
not have originated at the Metsamor nuclear energy plant or any other
corresponding site.
Armenian citizens Hrant Ohanian and Sumbat Tonoian were apprehended
in Tbilisi on smuggling charges. The two men pleaded guilty at a
closed-door hearing earlier this month.
Yerevan's National Security Service in April apprehended Armenian
citizen Garik Dadayan. He is suspected of passing the uranium to
Ohanian and Tonoian and has been charged under the nation's nuclear
trafficking law. Dadayan was detained seven years ago when he attempted
to cross into Georgia with 7 ounces of HEU material. He was returned
to Armenia and served a few months behind bars.
Georgian officials said the uranium Dadayan is accused of providing
to the two traffickers had an 87 percent enrichment grade.
"There is no such heavily enriched uranium in Armenia," Martirosian
told journalists. "Nuclear fuel used at the Armenian nuclear plant
is of three types: 1.6 percent (enriched uranium), 2.4 percent and
3.6 percent. That is the most enriched uranium existing in Armenia."
"All radioactive materials in Armenia, from the nuclear plant fuel to
several micrograms of nuclear materials used by various organizations,
are under the control of our agency and the International Atomic
Energy Agency," he insisted.
It is not certain the HEU material confiscated in Georgia came through
Armenia, he said.
A National Security Service spokesman said his agency was attempting to
determine the route the two traffickers took in bringing the uranium
into Georgia (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Nov. 17).
From: A. Papazian