Syria rejects request by IAEA nuclear inspectors to visit military sites
LONDON — Syria has refused to allow
international nuclear inspectors access to its military bases.
The regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, which has been buffeted by assassinations this year in its intelligence sector, said it would block attempts
by the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect military facilities.
The IAEA has asked to examine at least three Syrian military sites as part
of the agency's investigations into Damascus's nuclear program, Middle East Newsline reported.
"We would like to underline that my government is cooperating with the
agency in full transparency and will follow suit all along the way," Syrian
Atomic Energy Commission director Ibrahim Othman said. "However, this
cooperation will not in any way come at the expense of exposing our military
sites or causing a threat to our national security."
Also In This Edition
In an address to the IAEA assembly on Oct. 3, Othman dismissed
allegations by Western states that Syria was concealing a nuclear weapons
program. He cited praise by IAEA director Mohammed El Baradei of Syrian
cooperation. Syria has also sought to join the 35-nation board of governors.
"We regret statements by some countries calling on us to show more
transparency," Othman said. "I would like you here to recall what [El
Baradei] said, namely that Syria has cooperated and complied with
implementation of the measures agreed to by the agency."
In September 2007, the Israel Air Force destroyed a suspected plutonium
production facility at Kibar in northwestern Syria. In June 2008, the Assad
regime permitted an agency team to take test samples from Kibar.
Three months later, IAEA said it could not find evidence of nuclear
activities but sought additional information. Syria has declared one nuclear
facility to IAEA.
The Syrian refusal comes amid a heightened alert by the Syrian military
along the border with Lebanon. Arab diplomatic sources said Syria has
increased security around key buildings and government offices in Damascus.
