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1410:CYPPRESS:03
[03] Cyprus objects Turkish nuclear plans
House President, Spyros Kyprianou, sent a letter to his Mediterranean
and European Union counterparts expressing Southern Cyprus' objection to
Turkey's nuclear programme.
Kyprianou pointed out to the strong reactions in Turkey itself, Cyprus, that is only 185 kilometres away from Akkuyu, and the neighbouring countries for the intended construction of the two nuclear reactors, to be ordered this year and be fully operational by the year 2006.
This is "causing a lot of uneasiness and anxiety to the people of Southern Cyprus who have legitimate concerns about the impacts on life, health and the environment emanating from such reactors," he noted.
The House President gave in detail the health and environmental
parameters taken into consideration by the Southern Republic of Cyprus in
strongly objecting this development.
"Independent studies show that the proposed area to host the reactors
is located very close to the Akkuyu fault, an active seismic zone, which
makes the selection of this particular area an extremely dangerous and
risky option," the letter said.
Among independent studies Kyprianou cited a study conducted by the
British Geological Service proving wrong Turkey's decision to choose Akkuyu
and the fact that, in 1983, an American company withdrew its bid for a
similar construction due to the high potential seismic activity in the
proposed area.
"The operation of nuclear reactors, irrespective of the possibility of
having a nuclear accident like in Chernobyl or Three-Mile Island, produces
radioactivity that causes serious diseases like leukemia and brain cancer,"
the letter added.
It noted that the proximity of Cyprus to Akkuyu, its small size and prevailing wind patterns and sea currents "are serious parameters that will exacerbate the magnitude of the impact," in case of a major earthquake, malfunction, poor operation or even under normal operating conditions.
Kyprianou noted the strong protests by environmentalists against the roposed construction of the Akkuyu nuclear plant in Turkey itself, Cyprus, and Canada. The Canadian environmental organisations criticised the Canadian government for its decision to support a bid by the Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) and finance the project with 1.5 billion Canadian dollars.
He also cited a study by Greenpeace - Mediterranean showing that there are alternative ways of coping with the energy needs in Turkey, such as hydro, wind and solar energy sources for the production of electricity.
He noted that the Turkish Chamber of Electrical Engineers has estimated
that 30 percent of the electric energy produced there is lost during
distribution from power stations and the fact that Turkey insists on
acquiring nuclear reactors that will eventually cover only 4 percent of the
country's energy needs.
"Southern Cyprus strongly objects to the materialisation of the Turkish
plans and asks that all possible measures are taken so that Turkey desists
from going ahead with its nuclear programme," the House President's letter
to his Mediterranean and EU counterparts concluded.
CNA ENDS
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