Region | Syria
US asks Syria to open up sites for UN nuclear agency's probe
The United States yesterday welcomed a UN check of a Syrian site said to have harboured an almost-built secret nuclear reactor before Israel destroyed it, but called on Damascus not to restrict the investigation.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:07 June 27, 2008
Vienna: The United States yesterday welcomed a UN check of a Syrian site said to have harboured an almost-built secret nuclear reactor before Israel destroyed it, but called on Damascus not to restrict the investigation.
Syria gave International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sleuths a good look at the isolated desert site during a four-day factfinding trip, but results were inconclusive and further investigation is needed, they said on their return from Syria on Wednesday.
"We welcome the inspection as a first step and stand ready to support IAEA as it continues its investigation into Syria's clandestine nuclear activities," said Gregory Schulte, US ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog.
"We call on Syria to fully cooperate with IAEA and in no way hinder the investigation by refusing IAEA unfettered access to any site or information needed for the investigation," he said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters.
US nuclear analysts say satellite images show the Syrians swiftly razed the site, and put up a new building after the Israeli bombing in September in what they regard as a possible cover-up. The initial scope of IAEA inquiry was limited by what diplomats said was Syria's refusal to let the inspectors search two or three other sites. Syria denied access on national security grounds.
Asked about other sites, the IAEA's inspections chief Olli Heinonen said on Wednesday the issue would be addressed later.
'Limited mandate'
Syrian Vice President Farouq Al Shara told Lebanon's Al Manar television that Damascus opened Al Kibar to IAEA so it could see for itself "the allegations are forged and false". But he said IAEA had a mandate to "visit the site in question only". Al Manar did not say when Al Shara's remarks were taped.
Heinonen said his team was able to take extensive samples in search of traces of evidence at the remote desert location and the sensitive inquiry was off to "a good start", with Syria's cooperation generally satisfactory. He hinted further visits would be needed to resolve the mystery.
Mark Fitzpatrick, non-proliferation scholar at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Heinonen's remarks were diplomatically phrased to obscure the true level of Syrian cooperation.
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