The head of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday called for a discussion in Parliament on the dangers of nuclear power, in a letter sent to Parliament President Filippos Petsalnikos.
Pointing out that the 25th anniversary of the devastating nuclear accident in Chernobyl in 1986 had coincided with a fresh major nuclear disaster in Japan following the accident at Fukushima, Tsipras expressed grave concern about the overall safety of nuclear power plants.
He said that both military and peace-time uses of nuclear technology were now seriously questioned and the positions of anti-nuclear movements greatly strengthened. Tsipras further noted serious concerns among Greeks at planned nuclear power plants in the surrounding region, in areas with high earthquake activity and a history of constant tension where the proliferation of nuclear weapons was a serious concern.
Stressing that a Greek commitment to not construct nuclear power plants on its territory was mandatory but not enough, SYRIZA's Parliamentary group leader called for Greek initiatives to eradicate the nuclear threat through nuclear-free zones in the Balkans, Middle East and the Mediterranean.
ANA
