Azerbaijani NGOs addressed an open letter to the leadership of the Nuclear Energy Summit regarding Metsamor NPP of Armenia.

Ednews presents the letter:

We, as representatives of Azerbaijan's civil society, public and scientists, co-chairmen of the Nuclear Energy Summit, which started in Brussels, appealed to the Prime Minister of Belgium, Mr. Alexandre De Croix, to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (AEBA), Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi, and asked them to help Armenia in the emergency situation. We call to pay attention to the global threat posed by Metsamor Nuclear Power Station, which has long expired, and to raise the issue with the Armenian government about the immediate termination of the operation of this station.
The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, built in 1976 in a 9.5-point seismic zone, working with old technology and rated at only 8 points, poses a great nuclear threat to Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia and the entire region. The irresponsible behavior of the Armenian authorities regarding this NPP, the false reports calculated to deceive the world community are leading the region towards the next Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents. This risk is increasing with each passing day. Instead of decommissioning the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and following the rules and procedures expected by the international community, the Armenian authorities try to artificially extend its life every time.
Liquid waste from the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is ultimately discharged into the Araz River, a transboundary river. The plant is located in a water-scarce area, drawing water from deep wells to cool its aging reactor. During earthquakes, it is possible to change the level of underground water and the direction of flows, which clearly demonstrates the unreliability of the cooling system.
The illegal trade of some nuclear materials originating from Metsamor is also of great concern. There are more than 200 radioactive sources on the territory of Armenia. These sources include various types of isotopes. There are also cases of smuggling of radioactive isotopes in Armenia. This increases the possibility of using radionuclides for terrorist purposes.
The fact that the landfills where Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant waste is placed are already full and the creation of a new nuclear waste landfill shows that there are serious problems with the disposal of this waste.
We call on the International Atomic Energy Agency and other relevant international organizations to closely cooperate with the Republic of Azerbaijan as the main affected country in this field.
The Armenian authorities, which do not take into account the nuclear safety of their own people and the peoples living in the regional states, can be forced to stop the operation of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant only with joint global efforts. The Nuclear Energy Summit, which defines as its main direction the achievement of the goals arising from COP28, acts as a convenient platform in this regard. This is the expectation of the Azerbaijani community, which will host COP29.

SIGNATURES:

Fagan Aliyev - International Academy of Ecoenergetics

Islam Mustafayev - "Ruzgar" Ecological Civil Society

Sabit Bagirov - Entrepreneurship and Market Economy Development Assistance Fund

Mirhasan Hasanov - "Chernobyl Disabled People's Union" Civil Society

Eyvaz Askerov - Civil Society "Chernobyl Disabled People of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic".

Firuze Sultanzade - "EkoSfera" Social Ecological Center

Gulshan Akhundova - "Women, Development, Future" Civil Society

Parvana Valiyeva - "Service to Health" Civil Society

Muslim Gurbanov - "Ecoil" Scientific Ecological Civil Society

Rovshan Abbasov - "Towards a Healthy Life" Ecological Civil Society

Zurab Israfilov - "Azerbaijan Nature Protection Society" Civil Society

Maryam Majidova - Youth Gender Equality Center "Gender Hub" Civil Society 

Zaur İbrahimli - "Prioritet" Social Economic Research Center Civil Society 

Umud Mirzayev - International Eurasia Press Fund

Israel Iskandarov - "Umid" Social Development Support Civil Society 

Ramil Iskanderli - Legal Analysis and Research Civil Society 

Gunel Safarova - Chairman of "Vetandash" Research and Development Civil Society 

Khalid Kazimov - Regional Human Rights and Media Center Civil Society 

Ahmed Abbasbeyli - "Center for Community Development" Civil Society 

Elchin Mukhtarli - "Service to Health" Civil Society 

Amin Mammadov -Civil Society "Experts in the Field of Water Use".

Elman Jafarli - "Green World" Environmental Awareness Civil Society 

Gorkhmaz Ibrahimli - Biosphere Civil Society 

Gamza Yusubova - Environmental Education and Monitoring Civil Society 

Rahila Mehtiyeva - "Social - Economic and Ecological Development" Civil Society 

Irada Hasanova - "Sema va Eco" Social Economic Development Assistance Civil Society 

Tukezban Agababayeva - Eco Hub Support for Ecological Initiatives

Sevil Isayeva - Ekolex Ecological Legal Center Civil Society 

Rustam Malikov - "Ana Kura" Civil Society  for Helping to Study Environmental Problems

Azizaga Hunbataliyev - Environmental Environmental Protection Civil Society 

Yazgul Abdiyeva - "Health Protection" Civil Society 

Ayyub Karimli - Economic and Social Research Assistance Civil Society 

Tavakkul Iskandarov - "Biological Diversity Center" Civil Society 

Casarat Huseynzade - "Support to Information and Social Initiatives" Civil Society