Western Ecologists Oppose Export of Nuke Plant to Turkey

["greenbase" <greenbas@gb.greenpeace.org>]

WESTERN ECOLOGISTS OPPOSE EXPORT OF NUCLEAR PLANT TO TURKEY
German, Canadian activists ask their governments to help Turkey
develop clean energies

Istanbul, 16 March 1998 - Representatives from Greenpeace
Germany and prominent Canadian group Nuclear Awareness Project
criticised their governments for planning to export to Turkey
the dangerous nuclear technology for power plants. They outlined
the enormous environmental, social and financial costs of
nuclear power in their countries.

Melda Keskin, Greenpeace Mediterranean energy campaigner in
Turkey, demanded that the Canadian and German governments scrap
their plans to transfer dirty and dangerous nuclear technology
to Turkey (1). Instead, they should help Turkey to use energy
more
efficiently and to develop vast reserves of renewable energies
like solar, wind and biomass.

Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, Dave Martin from the
Canadian group "Nuclear Awareness Project" and Michael Kuehn
from Greenpeace Germany appealed to the Turkish government not
to make the mistake their countries made by developing nuclear
power.

"It is ironic that Canada wants to export Candu-type nuclear
reactors now, when 8 of the 22 reactors in Canada have been
closed down for safety reasons," said Dave Martin. "Turkey
should be aware that nuclear power in Canada has been an
economic and environmental disaster."

The situation in Germany is not much better, as Michael Kuehn
outlined: "Nuclear power has failed in Germany. No new plants
are being ordered. In fact, only last December the Muelheim-
Kaerlich reactor was closed due to unresolved safety concerns.
The majority of Germans do not want new reactors to be built,
given also the lack of acceptable solutions for radioactive
waste management".

Tomorrow, the environmentalists will travel with Keskin to
Akkuyu to meet with local officials and people.

Keskin noted: "The people around Akkuyu are opposed to the
building of nuclear reactors in Turkey. They do not believe the
assurances of the government and of nuclear companies that
nuclear power is clean and safe. We will be in Akkuyu to reveal
the dark side of nuclear power." (2)

On February 16, the Executive Director of Greenpeace
International, Dr. Thilo Bode, met Turkish Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources Cumhur Ersümer in Ankara. Dr. Bode
expressed his concern over foreign companies transferring
outdated and dangerous nuclear technology to Turkey.

NOTES:

1. The Turkish Government plans to announce which consortium has
won the tender to build nuclear reactors at Akkuyu Bay on the
southeast Mediterranean coast in June. Atomic Energy of Canada
Ltd (AECL) and Siemens of Germany are two leading companies
involved in consortia bidding for the project.

2. Greenpeace Mediterranean has been working closely with the
Turkish public in its campaign against the nuclear plans of the
Turkish Government since 1992.

Attention editors: The report "Turkey at an Energy Cross-Roads"
can be obtained upon request from the Greenpeace Mediterranean.

Greenpeace on the Internet at http://www.greenpeace.org