Middle East Politics.Net » IAEA

Syrian Nuclear Effort Confirmed

sanene — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:04:00 +0000

December 4th 2008, as samples were taken by western agents from the Orontes River in Syria, they confirmed Syria’s resumed nuclear program. According to these unidentified agents, the evidence found last month were presented to the IAEA as it indicated Syria’s nuclear activity. What makes matters worse for Syria is that these findings came after Syria declined to give UN officials access to three of its suspected nuclear sites. This is just the latest in Syrian circumventions of UN searches and avoidance of international questions about its nuclear aspirations.

Samuel Anene

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Syria Innocent Until Proven Guilty

sanajong — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:53:24 +0000

In a direct response to the U.S. and other Western nations’ continual condemnation of Syria, a member of the IAEA herself has explained how Israel has hindered the investigation into Syria’s nuclear program. She also reveals that there is no conclusive evidence against Syria. This means that Syria is, as of press time, innocent and eligible for aid.

This is not new news for those covering Syria and its continual claim of innocence. This comment from the IAEA should not come as a surprise, however due to continued speculation, it has become a statement that needed to be reiterated. Why is it still so hard to believe Syria – or is this just a general air of suspicion that the West as a whole has cast over the Middle East.

And what about Israel’s own non-compliance with IAEA rules and regulations?

Sade San A Jong

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Why Do We Continue to Doubt Syria?

sanajong — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:42:08 +0000

I have posted many articles on the conflict that Syria is embroiled with between the West and Israel and the East and the IAEA. The West seems to believe that Syria is harboring nuclear weapons, reactors, and developments with the help of North Korea. The East and IAEA believe Syria when they claim that they are not. Articles such as this one dismiss Syria’s cooperation with the IAEA, a branch of the UN, and place at odds the IAEA’s agenda for the safety of the world.

What gives us the right to doubt any country in their claim of innocence?

Sade San A Jong

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The IAEA to Support Syria

sanajong — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:15:42 +0000

The International Atomic Energy Agency is about to approve the request from Syria in order to build a nuclear power station. Western nations oppose this project since Syria is still under investigation for carrying out secret nuclear activities.

Sade San A Jong

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Syria Requests Aid from IAEA: U.S. Protests

sanajong — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:00:26 +0000

The International Atomic Energy Agency has preliminarily agreed to aid Syria in a civilian atomic power project. Syria, however, is still under investigation for allegedly building a reactor with North Korean aid in 2007. While there is no conclusive evidence, they are still under investigation. The United States protests that such aid would be “contradictory” and “almost ironic.”

Do you think that the U.S. has a right to object to such aid? Specially since Syria is requesting it from the UN and not them?

Sade San A Jong

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Syria: No More Inspectors

Joshua Bark — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:30:03 +0000

Syria will not be allowing any more IAEA inspectors to investigate their country, officials have said. The last inspectors were allowed in June. Syria has said (and the IAEA confirmed) the agreement was that there would be one more inspection, but the IAEA has said that they think there are at least three other sites that may have connections to the site at which uranium samples were found.

Syria has insisted these findings do not prove any sort of nuclear program.

This agreement is interesting, as the IAEA agreed to one more inspection in order to gain access to Syria. The irony is that when the IAEA found something that warrants more inspections, they could not investigate further because of the initial agreement that actually let them investigate.

Joshua Bark

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UK Expresses More Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

kcahoon — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:02:08 +0000

The British government t oday accused Iran of failing to cooperate with a United Nations watchdog. This failure has contributed to the UK becoming increasingly concerned with Iran’s nuclear program and whether or not they are creating nuclear weapons. A report by the UN nuclear watchdog states that Iran plans to start installing an extra 3,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium early next year in addition to the 3,800 already in operation and another 2,000 that are gradually being introduced. Thus far the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to determine whether the enrichment of this uranium is for the purposes of creating nuclear weapons, and this possibility has led to much concern for Western nations such as the UK and the United States, along with the Western ally of Israel. Ahmadinejad’s previous comment that he would like to “wipe Israel off the map” make the possibility of Iran possessing weapons of mass destruction extremely worrisome. Iran has so far refused to answer questions from the IAEA, but continues to insist its uranium enrichment is merely for purposes of creating more electricity. British Foreign Secretary David Millband stated today that while Iran has been offered economic, cultural and scientific incentives to cease its uranium enrichment program, severe sanctions will also need to be enforced if Iran continues to disregard the requirements of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Britain, the United States, China, Russia, France and Germany have previously offered to halt seeking more sanctions if Iran agrees to stop this program. It appears that the long disagreement between much of the world and Iran regarding nuclear power is nowhere near a resolution, but the British are certainly refusing to give up.

Kayla Cahoon

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IAEA and Syria–A Complex Relationship

Joshua Bark — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 22:06:26 +0000

Though Syria has withdrawn its bid to represent the Middle East on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has said that it will allow nuclear inspectors to continue investigating within its borders–with caveats. Syria claims that it will not allow inspectors into its military sites, claiming this will hurt its ‘national security’ interests.

The IAEA has described Syria’s cooperation thus far as ‘good,’ though not without some interference. Of course, excluding inspectors from the very locations where one might expect to find weapons (its military locations) is problematic. However, Syria has shown itself to be more transparent than a lot of other countries in terms of its nuclear programs (or lack thereof). The BBC report on this issue illustrates the complexity of the situation–the headline claims that Syria has ‘rebuff[ed]‘ the IAEA while seeming to contradict itself later in describing the relations with the IAEA as ‘good.’

Syria’s withdrawal from consideration from the board is a setback for what was a promising bid to maintain international transparency on its programs and send a signal for its support of such transparency for other regimes in the region. However, claims that showing its military bases jeopardizes national security (whether that claim illustrates Syria’s true reluctance for full inspections) is a valid one. International bodies investigating sensitive military areas may be necessary for full disclosure and as a ‘fact check’ for any state’s claims, but it does invite problems: are investigators going to be more loyal to the integrity of the IAEA’s investigations–only regarding nuclear programs–or might they compromise other security secrets under the legitimate guise of the IAEA? Surely Syria has expressed its reservations (whether sincere or motivated) about the IAEA’s ability to be perfectly objective in such matters.

Joshua Bark

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Libya, IAEA Says An Example For the Rest

dcrowley — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:48:37 +0000

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors recently met for a week long meeting and commended Libya for its cooperation during the agency’s inspection. Especially appreciative was the US envoy to the IAEA, who is quoted saying, “Libya provides and example of how a country can rebuild confidence after serious non compliance. We hope that other countries under IAEA investigation take note.” As AFP reports, the latter half of Gregory Schuttle’s comment most likely was directed towards Iran and Syria, both of which have allegedly pursued nuclear weapons.

Most likely, Libya’s cooperation also helped IAEA inspectors discover the entirety of Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan’s black market nuclear contacts. An IAEA report states that Libya was in contact with the Pakistani nuclear scientist for 10 year longer than previously believed.

David Crowley

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