The IAEA does not confirm Syrian nuclear program
Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The traces of uranium found on the Syrian site bombed by Israel last year are not sufficient proof of nuclear activities on the part of Damascus. This was affirmed on November 17 by Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the IAEA, the UN agency for atomic energy, who confirms that uranium has been found but does not say that there was an enrichment program. The American government is of a different view, saying that the bombed site concealed a secret nuclear reactor, believed to be ready for use and built thanks to help provided by North Korea.
The head of the IAEA, who made the comments during an economic summit in Dubai, also said that a report will be published on Syria's nuclear activities by the end of the week, specifying that this is not a "conclusive" document, because much work remains to be done.
He also calls upon Syria and Israel to cooperate in order to clarify the situation: "We need more cooperation from Syria. We need also cooperation from Israel," says ElBaradei, adding that "we are taking the issue very seriously," and asking Damascus for "more transparency."
Last week, Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem said he was "stunned" by reports that inspectors of the atomic agency had discovered secret atomic material at the site of Al-Kibar (in the photo), destroyed by an Israeli air raid in September of 2007.
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