Armenia voices willingness to share its nuclear experience with Turkey

Armenia has no intention of politicizing the country's drive for nuclear power and is willing to aid Turkey in its quest for atomic energy, Armenian officials said this week. "We have no intention whatsoever of turning the nuclear energy debate into a political issue and, as Armenian experts, we are willing to share our expertise and experience in nuclear energy with our Turkish and Russian peers," said Arthur Hovhannisyan, first deputy chairman of the RA State Nuclear Safety Regulatory Committee. Turkey has long been concerned about the possible dangers of the Haygagan Atomagayan nuclear plant in Metzsamor, just 16 kilometers from the Turkish border. Such worries are resurfacing amid the nuclear catastrophe in Japan following a tsunami that left the Fukushima reactor stricken and leaking radiation. Hovhanisyan also said overt Turkish concerns over the Metzsamor plant are politically motivated.