Russia to help Syria build Nuclear Plant

Financial Times ^

[BlackJack]

Russia is in negotiations to build a nuclear power plant in Syria, risking damage to its tighter relationship forged with the west in recent months and triggering fresh concerns over the spread of nuclear weapons.

Moscow's ministry of atomic energy (Minatom) confirmed the discussions yesterday. It said Syria wanted the project and that Russia "in principle" could supply it, while stressing that an agreement was "not ready".

The development is likely to be a fresh source of irritation to the US. Washington has long been a critic of Russia's contract to build the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, which Russia is seeking to expand, as well as Russian agreements to build reactors in other countries. Gary Milhollin, director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control in Washington, said: "This is a relationship breaker between the US and Russia."

In an unclassified report released this month the US Central Intelligence Agency mentioned the existence of a "draft co-operative programme" between Russia and Syria on civil nuclear power. "In principle, broader access to Russian expertise provides opportunities for Syria to expand its indigenous capabilities, should it decide to pursue nuclear weapons," it said.

The details emerged after a day of confusion following a statement on the foreign ministry website that an agreement had been drafted under which Russia would build a nuclear power plant and an atomic desalination plant in Syria.

The ministry later removed the statement, issued to coincide with a two-day visit to Moscow by Abdel-Khalim Khaddam, the Syrian vice-president. Russia's President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that military-technical co-operation was a key element in the two countries' relations.

[BlackJack]

Russia sure seems to be complicating matters. What are they thinking?

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[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

US to Syria, Iran, etc...........

if you build it, we will come!

[areafiftyone]

They are thinking about one thing - MONEY! They have already laid claim to certain new oil fields in Baghdad so they will have them if we go to war.

[Grampa Dave]

Its the money Jack.

The last thing that any Opecker nation needs is a nuclear power plant to produce electricity. They have enough oil under their sands to produce all the electricity their nation needs and never have any impact of the output.

Time to carpet bomb the Islamofascist thugs in Syria. ASSad Jr, may be more dangerous than Uncle Soddomite.

[Angelus Errare]

http://216.26.163.62/2003/eu_russia_01_16.html

Looks like the Russians backed off.

[newgeezer]

Let's see... Russia's helping someone build a nuke plant.

I suppose if Syria wanted to build a zeppelin, they'd call those folks over at Hindenberg, Inc.

[redhawk]

Don't bother, Israel will bomb it.

[yonif]

Israel will reserve the right to bomb Syria's nuclear reactor if it finds its hostile, as it did so to Iraq's in the early 80s.

[carolina_rn7]

Isa:17:1: The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

Isa:17:3: The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

Damacus will be flattened! It will happen.

[carolina_rn7]

Isa:17:1: The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

Isa:17:3: The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.

Damacus will be flattened! It will happen.

[RightWhale]

Nuclear power is good. So long as they can't use the reactor to produce plutonium-a breeder reactor--there would be no problem.

[meenie]

Bush needs to invite Pootin back to the Ponderosa and explain a few things.

[CyberAnt]

Per Isaiah 17:1, Israel will get there first!

[Mo1]

Russia is in negotiations to build a nuclear power plant in Syria,

Are they NUTS .. Syria??

[BlackJack]

They definitely should knock it out if it gets built-thats for sure!