20000309

Greece worried by Turkish nuclear plant plan

ANKARA: Greece has expressed concern about the environmental impact of Turkey's plan to build a nuclear power plant on its southern coast, a Turkish foreign ministry official said on Wednesday.

Turkey is set to decide by March 10 which of three bidding consortia will win a controversial and long-delayed tender to build its first nuclear power station.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou raised environmental concerns about the plant and possible damage to tourism during a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem late on Tuesday, the official said. "The Greek minister...expressed concerns over Turkey's plans," the official said.

Papandreou also told Cem that sensitivity about the safety of atomic plants had risen ahead of Greece's general elections on April 9.

Cem said the Turkish government had already made its decision to go ahead with the project, the official said.

Traditional rivals Turkey and Greece have struck up a tentative friendship since earthquakes hit both countries last year and Greece dropped objections to Turkey becoming a candidate for European Union membership.

The nuclear plant is estimated to cost $2.5-$4.5 billion depending on the choice of consortia and is expected to be completed in 2007.-Reuters