Syria’s weapons to Albania?
02/11/2013 00:00
Kamza municipality leaves family of 5 homeless after their house is demolished ‘for public green space’ 15/11 21:16
Paul Walker, the Director of Environment Safety and Stability at the
“Green Cross International” declared on an exclusive interview for Top
Chanelt aht the United States authorities have confirmed that Albania is
one of the most possible countries for destroying Syria’s chemical
weapons, together with France and Belgium.
Paul Walker: When I asked why Albania, why France, why Belgium, they said that these are countries of Western Europe that are not that far. It is just a matter of cutting the transportation distances. These are the three countries that they thought that would welcome a huge project as this. All three countries, including Albania, have some experience in demilitarizing weapons, especially the chemical ones. We know that Albania has completed the weapon destruction program safely in 2007. Albania has also had a program for destroying conventional weapons.
Top Channel: Based on the experience of 2007, do you really believe that Albania has the human potential and machineries for this process?
Paul Walker: They will have to think carefully where to process this project. They will need huge amounts of water, resources and electricity. It will require a lot of heat. It will be a very industrial process for thousands of tons of chemical weapons. The chemical weapons are very toxic. For these thousands of tons they will need road access. It depends on how they will arrive in a country such as Albania. They could arrive through a ship, a military ariplane. You would need airports or ports to take these loads. But the most important thing is that this process needs water and electric energy.
Top Channel: If something goes wrong, what’s the danger for the citizens?
Paul Walker: The biggest danger is that part of this toxic fluid will leak from the system. It could cause environmental damages. You should not let it in water resources. There could be small affects of the public health and in the environment. If there are leaks, it should be cleaned quickly. It has never happened in the United States and the risk is small.
Top Channel: What will Albania benefit from this process?
Paul Walker: The advantage for Albania will be building the industrial infrastructure, and that would bring jobs. This process will continue for some years. Mid 2014 might be the deadline for starting the destruction. If Albania will accept them, there will be a minimal risk, but on the other hand, many economic opportunities.
Top Channel
