Azerbaijani MP urges PACE countries to stop operation of outdated nuclear power plants

Strasbourg. 11 October. REPORT.AZ/ "We must stop the operation of outdated nuclear power plants because they are the greatest threat to the world," Nagif Hamzayev, member of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE, Milli Majlis Deputy said.

Report's Western European Bureau informs that Hamzayev was speaking at today's meeting of the organization within the autumn session.

He said the world has already tasted the vast destruction caused by two atom bombs back during the Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in 1945: "Thousands of innocent people lost their lives, several thousands were seriously wounded. The diseases and deformities that developed in human beings who were directly or indirectly affected by the radiation lasted several decades after the accident. Relatively recent Fukushima and Chernobyl accidents further suggest that the ramifications and consequences can be overly damaging, and contribute to the importance of this issue for Europe."

Hamzayev also stressed the importance of energy: "That's why we should try to build more secure nuclear power plants by using the most up-to-date and advances technology and constantly monitor it. Over the past several years, the world community only focused its attention on nuclear talks with giant countries, while neglecting other potential nuclear threats. For instance, some of the most dangerous and outdated nuclear threats not only for neighboring countries, but the whole European continent, come from smaller countries. I also think those smaller and old plants hardly deserve less attention of the international community, than the larger scope of the issue. Given that we are living in an extremely dynamic world, the development of the stations corresponding to the safety standards is unavoidable. Thats why the Turkish Power Plant built in Akkuyu should be credited for following the modern technology standards."

"Following up the discussion about the Nuclear Safety in Europe, using outdated technology and not following safety procedures during the operation of the Nuclear Power Plant poses serious environmental problems, causing radioactive pollution of water basins and trans-regional rivers. All of these processes create extra, unnecessary incentives for the conflicts and misunderstandings between our nations, so, any country, having nuclear weapon and engaged in smuggling of radioactive materials, threats the international security. All in all, indispensable measures have to be taken to solve the problem of nuclear safety and therefore the well-being of Europe! Let’s further keep Europe a democratic, fruitful and safer place to live!" the MP said.

Notably, the autumn session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) kicked off in Strasbourg on October 8.