2024-03-22 00:16:24
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for nuclear safety measures and regional nuclear disarmament at the first nuclear energy summit, expressing concern over the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant. This was reported by the Anatolian Agency (AA) for BTA.
In his address to the Brussels summit hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgium, Fidan stressed the critical need to strengthen nuclear safety measures and reiterated Turkey’s commitment to regional nuclear disarmament efforts.
“The summit represents a turning point for the future of civil nuclear energy,” he said, quoted by BTA.
Highlighting Turkey’s ambitious energy strategy, Fidan outlined the country’s clean energy transition and its significant contribution to energy security and climate change mitigation.
“Turkey is already implementing a solid energy plan and source diversification strategy with an ambitious clean energy transition program,” he said.
Highlighting Turkey’s efforts in civil nuclear power, Fidan said: “Akkuyu nuclear power plant is our flagship project. When operating at full capacity, it will cover 10% of electricity needs.”
Regarding the situation with the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Fidan expressed serious concern due to Turkey’s experience with the Chernobyl disaster.
“We simply cannot afford another (crash). Turkey has taken several initiatives to prevent a terrible incident in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporozhye.”
Fidan pledged Ankara’s support for initiatives aimed at preventing a possible catastrophe at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and supported the IAEA director general’s efforts to address the problem.
Condemning “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,” he said the rhetoric surrounding “nuclear weapons casts a shadow over our shared pursuit of a secure and energy-clean future.”
In this context, Fidan identified the Middle East as the “most stressful region” in relation to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and comments by Israeli officials regarding nuclear weapons.
“While the carnage in Gaza continues, the pronouncements of Israeli officials on nuclear weapons cannot simply be dismissed as reckless,” he said.
“Therefore, Turkey reiterates its call for the denuclearization of the region to avoid a possible nuclear arms race,” he added.
Fidan expressed gratitude to Belgium and the IAEA for organizing the summit.
(This is a news of the day in Turkey, selected by Anatolia Agency (AA) for publication by BTA under the agreement on exchange of information and professional cooperation, which stipulates that each day the national news agencies of Bulgaria and Turkey exchange a news item directly selected by the other agency of the day by the relevant party, and the other agency to publish it on its website with an explicit indication and citation of its partner as a source.)