Armenians appeal to IAEA for help
By Laman Sadigova
A group of people living in Metsamor, as well as in other regions of Armenia, has appealed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations with request to close the outdated Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant.
The appeal called to take urgent measures over Metsamor, which eventually turned into a source of radiation threat.
Metsamor NPP, which has been operating in Armenia for several decades, remains a time bomb, sparking many debates.
"NPP is built in a seismic zone, and tectonic faults at a distance of 500 meters, 16 km and 34 km away have formed around the station. Periodically leaking radioactive waste from the station pollute the environment. In this regard, we believe that living near this nuclear power plant poses a serious threat to the population of the area as well as throughout Armenia," the statement said.
The residents say that they were forced to leave their settlements and move deep into Armenia, particularly to Yerevan, Abovyan. “Besides, the experts working at this nuclear power plant leave their jobs without giving any reasons.“
In connection with the above, we ask you to assist in this matter and bring to justice the leadership of Armenia. Otherwise, it may become a disaster for the whole Armenia and its nation, the people complained.
In 2014, the European Commission called on Armenia to close the plant as soon as possible. This was stated in a report by the European Commission on the progress of Armenia on the European Neighborhood Policy in 2013. Yet it caused no reaction in Armenia.
Built in 1970, Metsamor was closed down after a devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988, but resumed operation in 1995 despite international outrage. Metsamor accumulated financial liabilities of 9-9.5 billion drams ($23.3 million), but the amount rapidly increased in the past few years as a result of the ineffective management of foreign loans and credits.
The new “bomb” that is jeopardizing lives not only the people of Armenian, but also the neighboring countries, can become a disaster and that should cause alarm for international organizations.
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