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ARMENIA HAS FEW ALTERNATIVES TO ENSURE ITS ENERGY SECURITY
/ARKA/
MARCH 27, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, March 27./ARKA/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, speaking
Tuesday at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, said
that Armenia has few alternatives to ensure its energy security.
He said that after tragedies in Chernobil and Fukushima, many became
skeptical about atomic energy's future.
"In some special cases, one of which is Armenia, there are few
alternatives for ensuring stable development to people and improve
living standards," the presidential press office quoted Sargsyan
as saying.
The head of state said that energy problems, including those related to
nuclear security should be considered along with associated problems.
He said that transformation of energy resources into negative
political capital.
"Its consequences are especially heavy for those countries in want
of energy reserves and searching for ways for energy independence,"
he said. "Azerbaijan and Turkey, two of Armenia's four neighbors, have
been keeping our country blockaded for two decades in a clear breach of
the international law - therefore, our country is left with no choice."
Sargsyan said that Armenia remained steadfast in its determination to
combat illegal trafficking of nuclear materials and ready to support
international efforts to root out terrorism.
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, the only nuclear power plant in South
Caucasus, is one of the elements of the country's energy independence.
The plant started functioning in 1980 and ceased operating in March
1989 after the 1988 Spitak Earthquake that killed 25,000 people. In
November 1995, the plant resumed operating, since the country plunged
into energy crisis.
One of the plant's two units doesn't function now. The other,
407.5-megawatt unit generates 40 to 50% of the total energy produced
in Armenia.
Experts say the nuclear plant can operate until 2016.
/ARKA/
MARCH 27, 2012
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, March 27./ARKA/. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, speaking
Tuesday at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, said
that Armenia has few alternatives to ensure its energy security.
He said that after tragedies in Chernobil and Fukushima, many became
skeptical about atomic energy's future.
"In some special cases, one of which is Armenia, there are few
alternatives for ensuring stable development to people and improve
living standards," the presidential press office quoted Sargsyan
as saying.
The head of state said that energy problems, including those related to
nuclear security should be considered along with associated problems.
He said that transformation of energy resources into negative
political capital.
"Its consequences are especially heavy for those countries in want
of energy reserves and searching for ways for energy independence,"
he said. "Azerbaijan and Turkey, two of Armenia's four neighbors, have
been keeping our country blockaded for two decades in a clear breach of
the international law - therefore, our country is left with no choice."
Sargsyan said that Armenia remained steadfast in its determination to
combat illegal trafficking of nuclear materials and ready to support
international efforts to root out terrorism.
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, the only nuclear power plant in South
Caucasus, is one of the elements of the country's energy independence.
The plant started functioning in 1980 and ceased operating in March
1989 after the 1988 Spitak Earthquake that killed 25,000 people. In
November 1995, the plant resumed operating, since the country plunged
into energy crisis.
One of the plant's two units doesn't function now. The other,
407.5-megawatt unit generates 40 to 50% of the total energy produced
in Armenia.
Experts say the nuclear plant can operate until 2016.