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Turkey Opposes Nuclear Wastes Passing Through Straits: Minister
Turkish Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin said that his ministry is strongly opposed to the passage of ships carrying radioactive material through the Turkish straits, reported the Anatolia News Agency on Friday.
The statement came after the Russian State Duma, or lower house of the Russian Parliament, adopted a resolution allowing 20,000 tons of nuclear wastes to be imported and stored in the Russian territory in return for 20 billion U.S. dollars.
It is not clear yet by which way the radioactive material will be shipped to Russia.
The Turkish Straits, consisting, from southwest to northeast, of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus, link the Mediterranean and the Black Seas.
Evaluating the risks to Turkey if the nuclear wastes find their way through the Turkish waterway, the minister said that his ministry would contact relevant institutions and start certain sanctions that are in line with international laws.
Aytekin urged national and international environmentalist organizations to take precautions against the scenario, warning that the wastes would not only pollute the straits, but also the seas of the Aegean and the Mediterranean.
"The people living in the countries along these coasts will also be affected. We're calling on all the volunteer organizations to oppose the destroying of the nuclear wastes in Siberia," he said.
The Duma on Wednesday approved a controversial package of three bills permitting the import of spent nuclear fuel for disposal and storage in Russia.��
If the bills are adopted by the Federation Council, or upper house of the parliament, and signed by the president, Russia may import up to 20,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel for disposal and temporary storage in the next 10 years.
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