Fidan reiterates call for region’s nuclear disarmament in energy summit

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan calls for the region’s nuclear disarmament amid Israeli officials’ weapons rhetoric, highlights robust energy transition agenda in Türkiye

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the need to take Israeli officials’ remarks on nuclear weapons seriously amid the ongoing massacre in Gaza, reiterating Türkiye’s call for the region’s nuclear disarmament to prevent a possible nuclear arms race.

The minister spoke at the First Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Belgian government.

He noted that civil nuclear energy’s role in energy security and combating climate change has been reaffirmed, adding: “Türkiye is already implementing a robust energy transition agenda and resource diversification strategy.”

Fidan highlighted Türkiye’s rapid advancement as a growing industrial economy, stating that the country is venturing into civil nuclear energy by implementing new energy supply programs.

“Our flagship project is the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant,” said Fidan, noting that the plant, once fully operational, will meet 10% of Türkiye’s electricity needs.

He also mentioned plans to increase this by constructing additional conventional facilities alongside small modular reactors.

Situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Fidan expressed concern over the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, stating: “Our country and region have experienced the Chornobyl disaster. We cannot endure another.”

He indicated that Türkiye has taken various initiatives to prevent a similar catastrophe in Zaporizhzhia.

Nuclear weapons rhetoric and the situation in Gaza

Fidan underscored the unacceptable nature of the use or threat of nuclear weapons, highlighting that such rhetoric casts a shadow over the collective pursuit of a safe and clean energy future.

Emphasizing that the Middle East is the region under the most pressure, Fidan stated: “As the massacre continues in Gaza, Israeli officials’ remarks on nuclear weapons cannot simply be dismissed as ‘reckless.’ Therefore, Türkiye reiterates its call for the region’s nuclear disarmament to prevent a possible nuclear arms race.”

Fidan also appreciated the IAEA’s critical role in the evolving nuclear security landscape.

Source: Newsroom

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