Klaus, Tuerk warn against nuclear panic in EU

Prague, March 16 (CTK) - The Czech and Slovenian presidents, Vaclav Klaus and Danilo Tuerk, respectively, Wednesday warned against populism and panic spreading in the EU in connection with considerations about restricting nuclear power over the nuclear power plant crisis in Japan hit by an earthquake.

The situation in Japan, where several nuclear reactors suffer from serious problems after the Friday earthquake and subsequent devastating tsunami, is completely exceptional, Klaus and Tuerk agreed.

The situation should prompt an expert debate on strengthening the safety of nuclear power plants but it should not provoke populist political decisions, Klaus and Tuerk said in reaction to a CTK question after their meeting at Prague Castle, the presidential seat, Wednesday.

Klaus labelled the voices calling for nuclear power restrictions in the EU "opportunistic populism."

"If someone faced domestic political troubles, he/she should not be getting rid of them by such statements," Klaus said.

He said he believed that the situation in the damaged Japanese power plants would be kept in control.

"The fact that the Japanese power plants survived such an incident as the island's shift by 2.5 metres in the way they did proves that these nuclear power plants are basically safe," Klaus pointed out.

"We in Slovenia are concerned about some reactions to the situation that is extraordinary," Tuerk said.

An expert debate about nuclear power plants' safety and "sober considerations" are needed, he added.

"This is not a suitable time for political decisions and panic spreading," he added.

Germany has suspended the planned extension of its nuclear power plants' lifespan and promised to temporarily shutdown the seven oldest reactors over the nuclear crisis in Japan.

Austria has called for stress tests of European nuclear power plants.

On the other hand, the Czech Republic and Slovenia intend to extend their nuclear power facilities in the years to come.

The neighbouring Austria has criticised their plans.