ABSTRACT: Warns that an "announced" nuclear catastrophe is about to strike Armenia because of the nuclear power plant of Medzamar, which has been re-opened despite its well-known dangerousness to make up for the crisis caused by the intestine wars that plague Caucaus.

(1994 - IL QUOTIDIANO RADICALE, 22 November 1993)

Is an "announced" nuclear catastrophe about to hit Armenia? This tragedy seems likely to add itself to the long list of disasters, genocides and earthquakes that hit a country towards which history has always been hostile. Barely 20 km. from Erevan rises the imposing building of the "Chernobyl model" nuclear power plant of Medzamar. It was built by the Soviet Union about twenty years ago: unfortunately it was built on top of a seismic stratum. It was closed following public outrage in 1988, immediately after the earthquake that destroyed Northern Armenia barely 100 km. from the plant.

The plant was re-opened almost clandestinely following a decree of the President Levon Ter Petrosian: the same who, paradoxically, closed the plant five years ago. Why this decision?

It's yet another price to be paid for the intestine wars that plague Caucaus. Armenia has been facing the block of supplies of energy for a year and a half.

Because of the conflict in Karabach, all pipes that cross Azerbaijan have been cut off. For more than 20 months water and electricity have been supplied for two hours only, 90% of the industries are closed, 65% of the trees have been felled. Armenia as it is today looks like a desert where hunger, cold, wars and earthquakes makes living a gamble.

The president of the environment committee of the Armenian parliament, Samvel Shaghinian, member of the Assembly of Parliamentarians of the Radical Party, summarizes the problem: "The government has re-opened the plant disregarding the contrary opinion of the majority of MPs (including 45 radicals) because Armenia cannot afford to spend another winter without heating and food, but also because it has been forced by the owners of nuclear energy, Russians and Westerners". The Medzamar plant account for only 25% of the energy requirements of Armenia. Therefore it does not solve the problem. Perhaps it is simply preparing a disaster.