YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "We are appealing to the Armenian authorities to close down the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) as soon as possible. We do not think that ANPP can operate safely for a long time. It is obvious that the problem of energy capacities to replace the ANPP must be solved," Gunnar Vigand, the head of the unit for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia of the European Commission's Foreign Relations Department, stated at the September 25 press conference. According to him, the European Commission will provide a concessional loan of 200 million euros for the closure of the ANPP. At the same time, he explained that the loan is not aimed at constructing a new nuclear power plant in Armenia. "We assist Armenia with diversification of energy sources but we do not allocate funds for construction of a new nuclear power plant," G. Vigand pointed out. The RA deputy foreign minister Armen Bayburtian said that the closure of the ANPP is one of the commitments that Armenia has assumed under the EU-Armenia Action Plan. In his words, the Armenian side has no contradictions with the EU regarding the issue of closing the nuclear power plant. The problem is in creation of energy capacities to replace the ANPP. The deputy minister noted that the Armenian government has worked out a number of measures aimed at closing the ANPP and developed the issues related to the creation of replacing capacities. "The issue of alternative energy sources is being considered by the country's government which is already developing plans for solution of this problem," A. Bayburtian stated.

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