IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei visited Ankara on 6 and 7 July 2006 in connection with Turkey´s decision to launch a nuclear energy programme.
His hosts in Ankara, the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Hilmi Guler, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, briefed him about the Government´s plans to build three power reactors that they are planning to bring into operation within the next decade.
Dr. ElBaradei said the IAEA could provide support in legal and technical areas, such as reviewing a draft nuclear law and helping with other issues, such as safety, security, quality assurance and public information.
"We reviewed how the Agency can assist Turkey´s programme to help ensure that it safe and secure," he told reporters after he met Prime Minister Erdogan on 6 July.
On Friday, 7 July, the Director General gave a lecture at the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority (TAEK) entitled Nuclear Power: A Changing Landscape, which was well attended by nuclear scientists and Turkish and international journalists. (See Story Links for full text of the speech).