Syria keeps silent over UN nuclear inspectors
SYRIA: Syria kept silent on Monday about a visit by UN nuclear
officials to inspect a mysterious site bombed by Israel last year, with
no official announcements a day after the team's arrival.
There was no acknowledgement in the state-owned media that the
inspectors were even in the country to investigate US allegations that
the Al-Kibar site in the northeastern desert was a nuclear reactor
nearing completion.
Just one privately owned daily, Al-Watan - like all Syrian media
close to the government - made any mention of the inspection mission by
the UN nuclear watchdog, carrying a commentary published by the Russian
news agency RIA Novosti.
The commentary highlighted Syria's strong denial of the US
allegations and recent statements by International Atomic Energy Agency
chief Mohamed ElBaradei that the watchdog had no evidence of Syrian
nuclear foul-play.
"We believe therefore that the IAEA team's mission is a routine visit
aimed at putting an end to the rumours over a Syrian nuclear programme,"
the commentary said.
It added that it remained unclear however whether "the United States
will be satisifed with such an outcome or will press on with its
accusations to create a Syrian nuclear issue similar to the Iranian or
North Korean ones."
Washington has circulated photographs it says show that the Al-Kibar
facility was a nuclear plant similar to the Yongbyon reactor in North
Korea and being built with Pyongyang's assistance.
Syria says Al-Kibar was a disused military facility.
The IAEA team is scheduled to leave Syria on Tuesday evening after
completing its inspection of the site.
But the mission's leader, IAEA deputy chief Olli Heinonen, said he
would not be returning to the watchdog's headquarters in Vienna until
Wednesday evening. It was not immediately clear how the inspectors would
be spending the additional time.
The team is to submit its findings to the UN watchdog's next regular
board meeting in September.
Damascus, Monday, AFP |