Washington has criticized the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for helping Syria build a nuclear power station while the country is being investigated for its alleged secret nuclear reactor.
"It is wholly inappropriate, we believe, given the fact that Syria is under investigation by the IAEA for building a nuclear reactor, outside the bounds of its international commitments," Voice of America quoted State Department spokesman Sean McCormack as saying.
The statement was issued following IAEI chief Mohamed ElBaradei's pronouncements that the UN nuclear watchdog will continue technical assistance to Damascus until the accusations against the Syrian government is confirmed. ElBaradei said Syria is entitled to the $350,000 assistance package for building a civilian power reactor under the IAEA rules.
The IAEA is still investigating if a facility in northern Syrian bombed and destroyed by Israeli warplanes in September is indeed a nuclear reactor. Damascus has denied that the facility is a nuclear reactor.
The issue has divided IAEA members with the U.S., France, Canada and the European Union calling for the aid to be suspended while Russia, China and developing countries support ElBaradei's position.
(Source: Gant Daily)
Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Syria. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Syria site hit by Israel resembled atom plant: IAEA
A Syrian complex bombed by Israel bore multiple features resembling those of a nuclear reactor and U.N. inspectors found "significant" traces of uranium at the site, a watchdog report said on Wednesday.
But the International Atomic Energy Agency report said the findings from an inspectors trip to the site in June were not enough to conclude a covert reactor was there. It said further investigation and greater Syrian transparency were needed.
Obtained by Reuters, the nuclear safeguards report said Syria would be asked to show to inspectors debris and equipment whisked away from the site at Al-Kibar in the country's eastern desert after the September 2007 Israeli air raid.
The United States gave intelligence to the IAEA last April that Washington said indicated the site was a reactor that was close to being built with North Korean assistance and designed to produce plutonium for atomic bombs.
Syria, an ally of Iran whose disputed uranium enrichment program has been under IAEA investigation for years, says the site destroyed was a conventional military building and the uranium traces must have come from munitions used to bomb it.
Damascus has dismissed as fabricated the satellite imagery, ground pictures of the site taken before Israel's attack and other intelligence underpinning the investigation.
"While it cannot be excluded that the building in question was intended for non-nuclear use, the features of the building, along with the connectivity of the site to adequate pumping capacity of cooling water, are similar to what may be found in connection with a reactor site," said the IAEA report, sent to its 35-nation board of governors ahead of a November 27-28 meeting.
It said photographs also revealed a containment shield similar in dimension and layout to those of atomic reactors.
It said Syria had not provided requested documentation to back its declarations about the nature of the building nor granted repeated IAEA requests for visits to three other sites seen as harboring possible evidence linked to Israel's target.
Satellite pictures show Syria carried out landscaping of these sites to change their look and took away large containers after the IAEA asked for access to those areas, the report said.
Other aerial imagery revealed Syria swept the Al-Kibar site clean after the attack and erected a new building on the spot. The IAEA will ask Syria to let inspectors take swipe samples from rubble, shrapnel and any equipment removed from Al-Kibar.
SYRIAN TRANSPARENCY NEEDED
It said IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei had urged Syria to "provide the necessary transparency including allowing visits to the requested locations and access to all available information for the agency to complete its assessment."
U.N. officials said the uranium contamination that turned up in soil samples collected at the site was a "chemically processed" form of the mineral that was not the enriched variety used to run nuclear power plants or as fissile bomb material.
But the element found was not depleted uranium either, the type used to boost the penetrating power of munitions.
"There's enough uranium here to raise questions. The onus of this verification is on Syria," said a senior U.N. official, who like others asked for anonymity due to political sensitivities.
The uranium element in question was not in Syria's declared nuclear inventory. Syria's only official nuclear site is an old research reactor. It has no known nuclear energy capacity.
The IAEA also intends to ask Israel for information addressing Syria's remarks about the origin of the uranium. Israel has remained silent on the matter since the air raid.
ElBaradei said on Monday the uranium traces could have come on clothing of workers who had been in contact with nuclear materials somewhere, or from stored equipment.
The report said Syria had told inspectors the site could not have been a nuclear facility because of unreliable, insufficient electricity supplies locally, limited available manpower and the lack of large quantities of treated water. But the report said inspectors saw enough electrical grid to power reactor pumps.
Another senior U.N. official said the investigation had urgent need of high-resolution pictures of the site he said must have been taken in the immediate aftermath of the bombing.
He said eight countries, which he declined to identify, had access to such imagery but had not turned it over to date.
The report complained that the investigation had been "severely hampered by (Israel's) unilateral use of force" and by a U.S. failure to hand over relevant intelligence until seven months after the bombing.
"In light of (that), the agency's verification of the situation has been made more difficult and complex, as well as more time- and resource-consuming," the report said.
(Source: Reuters)
But the International Atomic Energy Agency report said the findings from an inspectors trip to the site in June were not enough to conclude a covert reactor was there. It said further investigation and greater Syrian transparency were needed.
Obtained by Reuters, the nuclear safeguards report said Syria would be asked to show to inspectors debris and equipment whisked away from the site at Al-Kibar in the country's eastern desert after the September 2007 Israeli air raid.
The United States gave intelligence to the IAEA last April that Washington said indicated the site was a reactor that was close to being built with North Korean assistance and designed to produce plutonium for atomic bombs.
Syria, an ally of Iran whose disputed uranium enrichment program has been under IAEA investigation for years, says the site destroyed was a conventional military building and the uranium traces must have come from munitions used to bomb it.
Damascus has dismissed as fabricated the satellite imagery, ground pictures of the site taken before Israel's attack and other intelligence underpinning the investigation.
"While it cannot be excluded that the building in question was intended for non-nuclear use, the features of the building, along with the connectivity of the site to adequate pumping capacity of cooling water, are similar to what may be found in connection with a reactor site," said the IAEA report, sent to its 35-nation board of governors ahead of a November 27-28 meeting.
It said photographs also revealed a containment shield similar in dimension and layout to those of atomic reactors.
It said Syria had not provided requested documentation to back its declarations about the nature of the building nor granted repeated IAEA requests for visits to three other sites seen as harboring possible evidence linked to Israel's target.
Satellite pictures show Syria carried out landscaping of these sites to change their look and took away large containers after the IAEA asked for access to those areas, the report said.
Other aerial imagery revealed Syria swept the Al-Kibar site clean after the attack and erected a new building on the spot. The IAEA will ask Syria to let inspectors take swipe samples from rubble, shrapnel and any equipment removed from Al-Kibar.
SYRIAN TRANSPARENCY NEEDED
It said IAEA Director Mohamed ElBaradei had urged Syria to "provide the necessary transparency including allowing visits to the requested locations and access to all available information for the agency to complete its assessment."
U.N. officials said the uranium contamination that turned up in soil samples collected at the site was a "chemically processed" form of the mineral that was not the enriched variety used to run nuclear power plants or as fissile bomb material.
But the element found was not depleted uranium either, the type used to boost the penetrating power of munitions.
"There's enough uranium here to raise questions. The onus of this verification is on Syria," said a senior U.N. official, who like others asked for anonymity due to political sensitivities.
The uranium element in question was not in Syria's declared nuclear inventory. Syria's only official nuclear site is an old research reactor. It has no known nuclear energy capacity.
The IAEA also intends to ask Israel for information addressing Syria's remarks about the origin of the uranium. Israel has remained silent on the matter since the air raid.
ElBaradei said on Monday the uranium traces could have come on clothing of workers who had been in contact with nuclear materials somewhere, or from stored equipment.
The report said Syria had told inspectors the site could not have been a nuclear facility because of unreliable, insufficient electricity supplies locally, limited available manpower and the lack of large quantities of treated water. But the report said inspectors saw enough electrical grid to power reactor pumps.
Another senior U.N. official said the investigation had urgent need of high-resolution pictures of the site he said must have been taken in the immediate aftermath of the bombing.
He said eight countries, which he declined to identify, had access to such imagery but had not turned it over to date.
The report complained that the investigation had been "severely hampered by (Israel's) unilateral use of force" and by a U.S. failure to hand over relevant intelligence until seven months after the bombing.
"In light of (that), the agency's verification of the situation has been made more difficult and complex, as well as more time- and resource-consuming," the report said.
(Source: Reuters)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
IAEA council meeting will discuss Syrian nuclear issue for first time
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) council meeting to be held at the end of November will include Syrian nuclear issue in its agenda, an IAEA high ranking official confirmed to Xinhua in Vienna on Monday.
This will be the first time for IAEA to include Syrian nuclear activities in the topics for discussion, which suggests IAEA may query the purpose of Syrian nuclear activities.
Meanwhile reports here said that IAEA has found some doubtful points yet to clarify at the establishment which was blew down by Israel in 2007. Some reports even suggested that IAEA has already found evidence for Syria's secret development of nuclear weapons.
Last September, Israel sent fighters to blow down an establishment at Syrian Al-Kibar, claiming it to be Syria's base of secret nuclear weapon development. The United States provided IAEA intelligence this May, confirming Israel's accusation. This establishment would be for developing nuclear explosive material Plutonium and put into operation shortly, according to the U.S. intelligence.
However, Syria keeps denying of any plan for nuclear weapons, on which IAEA has carried out investigations.
IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei said at the IAEA council meeting in Vienna on Sept. 22 that according to analysis of sampling, IAEA has found no trace of nuclear material in Syria's Al-Kibar so far, but IAEA would continue probing the area.
(Source: ChinaView)
This will be the first time for IAEA to include Syrian nuclear activities in the topics for discussion, which suggests IAEA may query the purpose of Syrian nuclear activities.
Meanwhile reports here said that IAEA has found some doubtful points yet to clarify at the establishment which was blew down by Israel in 2007. Some reports even suggested that IAEA has already found evidence for Syria's secret development of nuclear weapons.
Last September, Israel sent fighters to blow down an establishment at Syrian Al-Kibar, claiming it to be Syria's base of secret nuclear weapon development. The United States provided IAEA intelligence this May, confirming Israel's accusation. This establishment would be for developing nuclear explosive material Plutonium and put into operation shortly, according to the U.S. intelligence.
However, Syria keeps denying of any plan for nuclear weapons, on which IAEA has carried out investigations.
IAEA Director General Mohammed ElBaradei said at the IAEA council meeting in Vienna on Sept. 22 that according to analysis of sampling, IAEA has found no trace of nuclear material in Syria's Al-Kibar so far, but IAEA would continue probing the area.
(Source: ChinaView)
Monday, September 29, 2008
West, Islamic nations split at nuclear meeting
Islamic anger over Israel's nuclear program and bids by Iran and Syria to gain more influence threaten to turn this week's 145-nation International Atomic Energy Agency meeting into an unprecedented showdown between the West and the developing world.
Opening Monday, the IAEA's general conference has traditionally been an annual chance for the United Nations nuclear monitoring agency's member countries to plan general nuclear policies that range from strengthening nonproliferation to programs of medical and scientific benefit.
Decisions are traditionally made by consensus, a practice that had led all sides to bridge sometimes substantial differences and opt for compromise on most issues for most of the general conference's 52-year history. A vote on any topic is unusual and considered a huge dent in the meeting's credibility.
But Islamic frustration over Israel's refusal to put its nuclear program under international purview and resistance by the Jewish state to Muslim pressure on the issue threatens to force a vote for the third year running.
After losing the vote two consecutive years, Islamic nations are threatening to up the ante this year, warning they will call for a ballot on every item, no matter how uncontroversial, unless they get conference backing on the issues close to their heart.
"In all my years of dealing with the general conference, I have never seen it as divided as this," said one conference veteran Sunday, the eve of the conference. The diplomat demanded anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment to the media.
As in the past two years, Islamic IAEA members are expected to put forward a resolution urging all Mideast nations to refrain from testing or developing nuclear arms and urging nuclear weapons states "to refrain from any action" hindering a Mideast nuclear-free zone.
Israel, widely considered the only Mideast nuclear weapons state, last year called for a vote on that resolution because of the introduction of a separate Arab-backed resolution deeming Israel a "nuclear threat" and refusal by its sponsors to withdraw it. The resolution was defeated but the fact it was put to the ballot further weakened the consensus principle.
Arab members — backed by Iran — this year have again asked conference organizers to include a similar item. Although it is now labeled "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities" instead of "Nuclear Threat," the Jewish State still objects to being singled out. And diplomats told The Associated Press ahead of the meeting that it will again force a vote on the Mideast nuclear-free zone resolution unless the second item is withdrawn.
Focusing on Israel by name "is substantially unwarranted and flawed," said a letter prepared for review by the conference from Israel Michaeli, the Jewish State's IAEA representative.
Sponsors of the item should instead "address the most pressing proliferation concerns in the Middle East," said the letter in allusion to Iran's defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions for refusal to stop uranium enrichment and world concerns about allegations that Tehran had past plans to make nuclear weapons.
On Saturday, the U.N. Security Council approved a fourth resolution critical of Tehran's defiance on uranium enrichment, which can create both nuclear fuel and the fissile core of warheads.
But Iran, along with ally Syria, figures even more directly at the Vienna conference because they are among four nations seeking their geographic region's nomination for a seat on the IAEA's decision-making 35-nation board.
Iran's bid is strategic. Tehran is running to counteract a U.S. push to have Afghanistan or outsider Kazakhstan elected over Syria, which is under IAEA investigation for allegedly hiding a secret nuclear program, including a nearly completed plutonium producing reactor destroyed last year by Israel.
Tehran is ready to withdraw from the race if Afghanistan does so, narrowing the field to favored Syria and Kazakhstan, diplomats told the AP. But as of Sunday, Afghanistan, backed by the U.S. and its allies, was not ready to do so.
If the regional group does not agree on a candidate by the time the conference turns to the issue, the meeting will also be asked to vote on which nation should take the board seat.
(Source: AP)
Opening Monday, the IAEA's general conference has traditionally been an annual chance for the United Nations nuclear monitoring agency's member countries to plan general nuclear policies that range from strengthening nonproliferation to programs of medical and scientific benefit.
Decisions are traditionally made by consensus, a practice that had led all sides to bridge sometimes substantial differences and opt for compromise on most issues for most of the general conference's 52-year history. A vote on any topic is unusual and considered a huge dent in the meeting's credibility.
But Islamic frustration over Israel's refusal to put its nuclear program under international purview and resistance by the Jewish state to Muslim pressure on the issue threatens to force a vote for the third year running.
After losing the vote two consecutive years, Islamic nations are threatening to up the ante this year, warning they will call for a ballot on every item, no matter how uncontroversial, unless they get conference backing on the issues close to their heart.
"In all my years of dealing with the general conference, I have never seen it as divided as this," said one conference veteran Sunday, the eve of the conference. The diplomat demanded anonymity because he wasn't authorized to comment to the media.
As in the past two years, Islamic IAEA members are expected to put forward a resolution urging all Mideast nations to refrain from testing or developing nuclear arms and urging nuclear weapons states "to refrain from any action" hindering a Mideast nuclear-free zone.
Israel, widely considered the only Mideast nuclear weapons state, last year called for a vote on that resolution because of the introduction of a separate Arab-backed resolution deeming Israel a "nuclear threat" and refusal by its sponsors to withdraw it. The resolution was defeated but the fact it was put to the ballot further weakened the consensus principle.
Arab members — backed by Iran — this year have again asked conference organizers to include a similar item. Although it is now labeled "Israeli Nuclear Capabilities" instead of "Nuclear Threat," the Jewish State still objects to being singled out. And diplomats told The Associated Press ahead of the meeting that it will again force a vote on the Mideast nuclear-free zone resolution unless the second item is withdrawn.
Focusing on Israel by name "is substantially unwarranted and flawed," said a letter prepared for review by the conference from Israel Michaeli, the Jewish State's IAEA representative.
Sponsors of the item should instead "address the most pressing proliferation concerns in the Middle East," said the letter in allusion to Iran's defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions for refusal to stop uranium enrichment and world concerns about allegations that Tehran had past plans to make nuclear weapons.
On Saturday, the U.N. Security Council approved a fourth resolution critical of Tehran's defiance on uranium enrichment, which can create both nuclear fuel and the fissile core of warheads.
But Iran, along with ally Syria, figures even more directly at the Vienna conference because they are among four nations seeking their geographic region's nomination for a seat on the IAEA's decision-making 35-nation board.
Iran's bid is strategic. Tehran is running to counteract a U.S. push to have Afghanistan or outsider Kazakhstan elected over Syria, which is under IAEA investigation for allegedly hiding a secret nuclear program, including a nearly completed plutonium producing reactor destroyed last year by Israel.
Tehran is ready to withdraw from the race if Afghanistan does so, narrowing the field to favored Syria and Kazakhstan, diplomats told the AP. But as of Sunday, Afghanistan, backed by the U.S. and its allies, was not ready to do so.
If the regional group does not agree on a candidate by the time the conference turns to the issue, the meeting will also be asked to vote on which nation should take the board seat.
(Source: AP)
Friday, September 26, 2008
IAEA chief: Report on Syrian nuclear plans needs more time
The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that it needs more time to prepare a report on Syria's nuclear plans as required by the United States.
"It is impossible for the International Atomic Energy Agency to issue the report on Syrian nuclear plans within a few weeks as required by the United States, said Mohammed ElBaradei, IAEA Director General, here on Thursday evening.
ElBaradei also noted that the IAEA's work should not be guided by political intentions, and that the IAEA will not issue the report before it fully understands the facts, according to media news here on Friday.
ElBaradei also showed dissatisfaction to the United States and Israel for only providing the IAEA with photos of the destroyed facility in Syria after the Israeli air force bombed it out.
He pointed out that the photos only show destructed buildings, but "It is very difficult for us to find out the facts after the destruction of this building."
Israeli air force bombed out a facility in the remote desert region of east Syria in Sept. 2007. The United States and Israel claimed this facility to be a secret nuclear reactor, but Syria said it is only a normal military facitlity. Therefore, the IAEA began probing the area and has required further explanation from Syria.
So far, the IAEA has found no radioactive material in the area of the destructed facility, but the IAEA would continue its investigation, ElBaradei said on the IAEA council meeting in Vienna on Sept. 22.
(Source: ChinaView)
"It is impossible for the International Atomic Energy Agency to issue the report on Syrian nuclear plans within a few weeks as required by the United States, said Mohammed ElBaradei, IAEA Director General, here on Thursday evening.
ElBaradei also noted that the IAEA's work should not be guided by political intentions, and that the IAEA will not issue the report before it fully understands the facts, according to media news here on Friday.
ElBaradei also showed dissatisfaction to the United States and Israel for only providing the IAEA with photos of the destroyed facility in Syria after the Israeli air force bombed it out.
He pointed out that the photos only show destructed buildings, but "It is very difficult for us to find out the facts after the destruction of this building."
Israeli air force bombed out a facility in the remote desert region of east Syria in Sept. 2007. The United States and Israel claimed this facility to be a secret nuclear reactor, but Syria said it is only a normal military facitlity. Therefore, the IAEA began probing the area and has required further explanation from Syria.
So far, the IAEA has found no radioactive material in the area of the destructed facility, but the IAEA would continue its investigation, ElBaradei said on the IAEA council meeting in Vienna on Sept. 22.
(Source: ChinaView)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
IAEA finds no nuclear material in Syria
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no trace of nuclear material in Syria's Al-Kibar so far, but it would continue sampling in this area to analyze, said Mohammed ElBaradei, IAEA director general, in Vienna Monday.
ElBaradei also pointed out at an IAEA council meeting that Syria has not provided IAEA supplement information so far about its related nuclear activities as requested.
In September 2007, Israeli air force struck over 100 kilometer deep into Syria and bombed out a facility in Syrian Al-Kibar. Then Israel claimed that Syria was developing nuclear weapons in that area, but Syria keeps denying the facility is for nuclear activities. Therefore, IAEA began probing Syria and required further explanation about it.
ElBaradei also noted on the council meeting Monday that IAEA can not make sure so far whether Libya is involved in activities of nuclear weapon development in the country. Libya's explanation of its nuclear program accords with the outcome of IAEA's investigation, but IAEA would continue normal security inspection, so as to ensure Libya owns no secret nuclear materials.
Libya announced at the end of 2003 that it is willing to abandon its plan of developing weapons of mass destruction and to receive supervision on weapons from the international society.
(Source: ChinaView)
ElBaradei also pointed out at an IAEA council meeting that Syria has not provided IAEA supplement information so far about its related nuclear activities as requested.
In September 2007, Israeli air force struck over 100 kilometer deep into Syria and bombed out a facility in Syrian Al-Kibar. Then Israel claimed that Syria was developing nuclear weapons in that area, but Syria keeps denying the facility is for nuclear activities. Therefore, IAEA began probing Syria and required further explanation about it.
ElBaradei also noted on the council meeting Monday that IAEA can not make sure so far whether Libya is involved in activities of nuclear weapon development in the country. Libya's explanation of its nuclear program accords with the outcome of IAEA's investigation, but IAEA would continue normal security inspection, so as to ensure Libya owns no secret nuclear materials.
Libya announced at the end of 2003 that it is willing to abandon its plan of developing weapons of mass destruction and to receive supervision on weapons from the international society.
(Source: ChinaView)
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