Activists in Turkey, Cyprus protest Turkish plans to build nuclear plant

By Erol Israfil, The Associated Press – Mar 19, 2011

ISTANBUL — Activists in Turkey and Cyprus on Saturday protested against Turkish government plans to build the country's first nuclear reactor.

Turkey has reached a deal with Russia's Rosatom agency for the construction of a nuclear plant in Akkuyu, in the Mediterranean coastal province of Mersin. It is also holding talks with Japanese companies for a second plant on the Black Sea coast.

Environmental groups warn that since Turkey is prone to earthquakes, building nuclear plants would be too dangerous, especially since a massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami caused a nuclear havoc in Japan.

In Istanbul, hundreds of demonstrators marched along a pedestrian street holding up banners that read: "Don't let Akkuyu become Fukushima," in reference to the troubled Japanese reactor. In Mersin, some 1,000 people demonstrated, holding up a symbolic coffin marked: "Radiation kills," the Dogan news agency reported.

About 50 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots wearing masks and white overalls warned the plant could also threaten the Cyprus, an island some 100 kilometers (62 miles) away.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has downplayed threats and said the government would not abandon plans to build three nuclear power stations over the next few years to reduce Turkey's energy dependence. Energy Minister Taner Yildiz has said Turkey was seeking the latest technology and would request additional safety guarantees.

"We cannot believe how Prime Minister Erdogan can just ignore what happened in Japan," Greenpeace activist Hilal Atici said in Istanbul. "There have been so many nuclear disasters like Chornobyl and now Fukushima. Such need to be avoided at all cost."

Cyprus government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the government would raise its concerns over Akkuyu at an European Union summit next week.

On Friday, Turkey's neighbor Greece asked Turkey to halt plans for the construction of the Akkuyu plant.

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