Turkey set for nuclear talks with other countries after Japanese setback

Turkey has said it is holding talks with other countries on the possible construction of a nuclear power plant in the northern province of Sinop after Japan pulled out of the project. Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told reporters yesterday after his talks with US Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone and his accompanying committee that Turkey is having delayed talks with third countries after waiting for Japan's response as a way of showing courtesy, adding that Japan is aware of “these third countries.” Recalling that the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) earlier pulled out of the project in Sinop and that the Japanese government has suggested a different model, Yildiz said Turkey wants to end meetings on this matter shortly. Yildiz said Turkey wants to conclude nuclear talks by maximizing Turkey's interests as much as possible, claiming that Turkey would have already signed an agreement with South Korea if it made a compromise. “We consider nuclear power plants among our strategic projects,” Yildiz told reporters. A delegation from Japan arrived in Ankara earlier this month to discuss a new model of cooperation between Japan and Turkey. “The Japanese government told us that they want to continue negotiations. They said they would propose a new model,” Yildiz then told reporters, adding that Turkey would consider “flexible cooperation alternatives.” Ricciardone told reporters that nuclear energy is an important part of the US government's energy strategy and that American companies are interested in the development and monitoring of nuclear energy in Turkey.