The government hasn't reached a decision to launch a nuclear power programme. If it reaches such a decision, then a referendum will be organized for the citizens to be able to say whether they support it or not.

This was stated by Deputy PM for economic affairs Vladimir Pesevski at Tuesday's international workshop for regional and cross-border cooperation in energy and nuclear power, organized by the company Macedonian Power Plants (ELEM), the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sept. 24-27 in Skopje.

Participants in the workshop discuss issues related to regional cooperation over nuclear power.

"Macedonia has no nuclear energy program and it haven't reached a decision yet as to whether to launch a program in its own or in regional projects. However, the government is monitoring all international trends and developments in the field and shows great interest in regional trends and cooperation with neighboring countries on the matter," Pesevski told the experts.

He added that under government's recommendation, a group within ELEM had been formed tasked to conduct researches and to monitor regional and global trends in nuclear power and energy production. "The group is also in charge of collecting materials in order the government to be able to evaluate its interest and capabilities to take part in its own or regional projects in connection to new energy sources," the Deputy PM said.

IAEA expert Ivan Videnovic stated that nuclear power was a complex area in which the most important segment was the construction of an infrastructure.

"IAEA clearly recognizes the importance of cooperation between experts in nuclear power projects and in terms of regional energy safety. Today's workshop is organized because IAEA considers that the countries in the region lack finances, infrastructural capacities and experts to implement such expensive projects. Therefore, regional cooperation is necessary," said Videnovic.