Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the Republic of Korea

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in the Republic of Korea on a working visit, participated today in Seoul at the International Nuclear Summit 2012. At the Summit, President Sargsyan made a statement. First, Serzh Sargsyan thanked the organizers of the Summit and personally President Lee Myung-bak for hosting this pivotal for the global security event. The President of Armenia hailed also continuous efforts of the US President Barack Obama since the 2010 Summit in Washington.

“Nuclear security has been a priority issue for Armenia. To register positive results, we have been persistently and readily supporting and implementing proposed programs, have taken concrete steps to create monitoring mechanism,” President Serzh Sargsyan underscored. According to the President, a new law has been adopted regarding export, transit of dual use goods, including nuclear and radioactive materials, as well as monitoring of the transfer of dual use information and results of intellectual activities.

The President of Armenia also noted that in cooperation with and assistance of the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, Armenia is carrying out a program of personnel retraining and augmentation of the customs technical devices. In President Sargsyan’s words, the Republic of Armenia fully endorses the implementation of the UN SC Resolution 1540.

“At the Washington Summit, we all underscored the critical importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s central role in upholding nuclear security, preservation and control over radioactive materials. As a producer of nuclear energy, Armenia is developing a multifaceted cooperation with the IAEA. Safe use of the Armenian NPS and upgrading of its safety level, issues of its physical protection, as well as conservation and control over the radioactive waste are among priorities of our government. On this issue, we strictly adhere to the international requirements developed by the Agency for the nuclear power stations of that generation.

The OSART mission of the IAEA conducted last year also verified full compliance of the Armenian NPS to these norms,” President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan said.

Taking the opportunity, President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to the IAEA, the Russian Federation, EU and all those countries, organizations and experts who are cooperating with and assisting Armenia on this important issue.

Serzh Sargsyan referred also to the disinformation spoken by the President of Azerbaijan regarding the Armenian Nuclear Power Station. “As for the disinformation broadcasted here by the President of Azerbaijan regarding the Armenia NPS, it doesn’t surprise me a bit because vilification of Armenia has become a modus operandi for Azerbaijan long ago. Not only every issue related to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh is presented from the highest podiums in the most perverted way but also the documents adopted by the international community, i.e. by us and by you. Even the UN Security Council resolutions related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are distorted, neglecting the fact that they were the ones who started the military actions; they were the ones who refused to cease them, they are the ones who voice belligerent statements on a daily basis and refuse to solve the NK issue in accordance with international law,” President Sargsyan noted.

The President of Armenia said that after disasters on Chernobyl and Fukusima many currently approach issues related to the future of nuclear energy with apprehension. According to President Sargsyan, in some special cases such as Armenia, there is little choice to ensure sustainable development of our people and improvement of living standards.

Serzh Sargsyan also noted that it would be appropriate to view all energy, including nuclear energy security issues in the context of all contiguous issues. He said that the fight against turning energy resources into vicious political capital is not less important. Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence that the consequences of such policy are particularly taxing for the countries which do not have natural energy resources and are compelled to look for the avenues to achieve energy independence. “Two out of Armenia’s four neighbors, in blatant violation of international norms have been blockading our country for the last twenty years, among other things leaving us no alternatives in achieving energy independence,” President Sargsyan said.

At the conclusion of his speech, the President of Armenia reiterated Armenia’s commitment to the fight against illegal use of nuclear material, as well as our country’s determination to support international efforts in combating terrorism.