Energy minister: Syria should open to nuclear inspectors

Energy Minister Berat Albayrak who spoke at the General Conference of the IAEA in Austria's capital, Vienna said a country like Syria that uses chemical weapons against its citizens must be inspected and stressed that Syrian land should be opened to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors. Asking the IAEA to implement security audit agreements in Syria, Albayrak said: "We are aware of the fact that Syria is more fragile than ever. This disrupts the security audits." He also suggested that the country should sign the additional protocols of the security audit agreement and open its land to IAEA inspectors.

Noting that Turkey supports a Middle East free from nuclear weapons, Albayrak continued by saying that the failure of a conference that was supposed to be held in this direction was disappointing. "We invite all the parties to sign a prudential agreement. Turkey supports policy to sign security audit agreements for the purpose that each country in the Middle East will be free from nuclear weapons," Albayrak said.

Stating that the security of nuclear power plants whose lifespans have expired was a source of concern for Turkey, Albayrak invited all member countries to review their nuclear power plants. Recalling that Armenia's 47-year-old Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant was located within a seismic zone and 16 kilometers away from the Turkish border, Albayrak said this power plant, deprived of the protection structure, continued to be a source of concern for Turkey and Armenia's neighbors, and stressed that Metsamor should be shut down.

Prior to the general conference, Minister Albayrak also held bilateral meetings with Japanese State Minister Hirotaka Ishihara, head of Russian Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko, and the IAEA's Director General Yukiya Amano.

Pointing out that even if each country takes the necessary precautions about its own nuclear power plants, the security risks beyond their borders cannot be ignored, Albayrak said a wide security perspective that cannot be limited with a legal framework should be implemented. "Therefore, we have to act in collaboration towards potential threats. Each country should put forward their best efforts," Albayrak said. Suggesting that the IAEA's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocols are required for strict control, Albayrak stated that the number of countries that have signed the additional protocols has reached 127, and urged those who have not signed yet to do so.