Georgia, Tbilisi, Oct. 25 /Trend, N.Kirtskhalia/
Earthquakes have acquired a cyclical character, and it is possible that they will reach the Armenian nuclear power plant, the leader of the Georgian Green Party Giorgi Gachechiladze told Georgian journalists.
"The territory of Turkey and Armenia is a seismically active zone, and there is a risk that a major earthquake could occur on the territory adjacent to the Armenian nuclear power plant, which will lead to disaster. Strong earthquakes in Turkey and Armenia have already acquired a cyclical character, which is associated with passage of tectonic faults through these territories," he stressed.
Gachechiladze referred to the history of earthquakes, and remembered that a major earthquake in Turkey occurred in 1976, which killed 4,000 people and the earthquake took place in Armenia, Spitak in late 80s, in Turkey in 1999. About 20,000 people were killed in Turkey then.
"These earthquakes repeat in intervals a little more than a decade. We can therefore expect that a disaster could occur near the nuclear power plant. The station was built during the Soviet period and its major rehabilitation was not carried out, so a major earthquake would cause it serious damage," said leader of Georgian greens.
Gachechiladze said that the defenders of the environment and not only they have long demanded the closing of the Armenian NPP.
"The European Union demanded from Armenia to close this station, and even offered money to build solid alternative energy sources. At one time, Armenians agreed, but then the station was acquired by the Russian RAO UES Company, and these negotiations were halted. And now the EU is willing to pay for closing this station. The idea is that another earthquake occurring in Turkey should make Armenia to think," said Gachechiladze.
He argues that if the Armenian nuclear power plant is damaged, Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran would be in serious jeopardy. "Radiation will reach Tbilisi after 8 hours. It would spread across the area, a regional disaster will happen," he said.