Russia is planning to Build a Nuclear Reactor in Syria

[Eli]

(looking for English sources...)

[Eli]

http://www.interfax.ru/one_news_en.html?lang=EN&tz=0&tz_format=MSK&id_news=5614908

Russia could build nuclear plant in Syria

MOSCOW. Jan 14 (Interfax) - Moscow and Damascus have reached a basic understanding on drafting agreements under which Russia would build a nuclear power plant and a seawater desalting unit on the basis of an atomic reactor in Syria, reads a Russian Foreign Ministry statement posted on its website on Tuesday.

Syrian Vice President Abd al-Halim ibn Said Khaddam will arrive in Moscow on a working visit on January 14.

The statement reads that Russia and Syria have already signed an agreement on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

"The Syrians are displaying interest in our high technology, scientific projects, and research, in the creation of joint industrial enterprises and companies, and in establishing direct links between scientific and research institutions," the document reads.

Syria is also interested in seeing Russian companies and organizations become involved in oil and gas exploration and production, the document says.

"Russia and Syria enjoy stable trade and economic relations," it reads.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, trade turnover between the two countries in 2001 was $163 million (in 2000 $160 million). Russian exports to Syria in 2001 totaled $95 million and imports $68 million.

The overall volume of technical assistance Russia provided to Syria last year was worth $13.7 million.

"Energy facilities built with our assistance ensure 20% of the country's electric power needs and 30% of its oil production," the Foreign Ministry says.

For more details see Interfax's Diplomatic Panorama for January 14. [RU SY EUROPE ASIA EEU EMRG DIP PRO POL ELG ENR CON TRD] va aw <>

[DRoseDARs]

Russia just LOVES rubbing the US's nose in this kind of crap, doesn't it?

[aaglo]

DRoseDARs - Everybody loves it....

[Harovan]

I don't see your point, Eli. Is that bad?

[KrazyHorse]

Eli believes that every country is just waiting for a chance to nuke Israel. Including the UK and France.

[DRoseDARs]

Aaglo, y'all just wait 'til that sh*t hits the fan...

SR, Syria is still considered to be a concern when it comes to terrorists within its borders. I don't have any links or recent news, but I do know it just isn't a very good idea to be giving any nuclear tech to nations that are of questionable inner workings.

[Seeker]

Well, the Syrian govmn't probably IS just waiting for a chance to nuke Israel, but they don't have one.

Unless someone invents an entire upper level government and military willing to committ mass suicide for the chance of killing a lot of enemy civilians...

The top brass is very willing to sacrifice the proles, but if their own asses are on the line the fingers will stay off the buttons.

[KrazyHorse]

You're just saying that if there were no repercussions then the Syrians would wipe the Israelis off the map. Which is true, I suppose, but no more than I would say about most countries in the region and vice versa.

[Eli]

It's not only a matter of them nuking us or not. At this point, the Iran&Syria supported Hizballah cant to anything serious with it's huge arsenal of 10,000 missiles because they dont have permission from above. The current state of the Syrian military is disastrous, if limited to conventional warfare the IDF can reach in Damascus in a few of days and the Syrians naturally dont want that.
But if they get the bomb, it's over. The Hizballah will be able to act freely and half of Israel will be under constant bombardment.

[BeBMan]

Well, the problem I see is that you can´t forbid practically all ME states except Israel the peaceful use of nuclear power. Oh, yes, maybe the Syrians have some other reasons to build that reactor - however, in the end you cannot be sure. So in fact you´re saying noone can have a nuclear reactor in the region, because there is always the chance that its used for military purposes.

And since Israel has some options in the same direction it should not be that much surprised when other states try the same.

For me an ideal solution would be a kind of control/disarmament backed by powers like usa, russia, etc for the whole region, but I don´t see this happen in the near future...

[Tolls]

Don't you need more than just a nuclear plant to make a bomb?
Doesn't it need to be a specific type, and some form of processing after that?

Just getting a power plant won't do it...or even help towards it.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by Eli
...with it's huge arsenal of 10,000 missiles because they dont have permission from above.

Hezbollah has 10000 missiles ? What type ?

The current state of the Syrian military is disastrous, if limited to conventional warfare the IDF can reach in Damascus in a few of days and the Syrians naturally dont want that. But if they get the bomb, it's over.

You have the bomb, they have the bomb: MAD on a different scale as far as i can tell.

The Hizballah will be able to act freely and half of Israel will be under constant bombardment.

I'd say : Under constant threat of bombardment. Just like the Palestinians are from Israel right now.

[Dinner]

"Russia could build nuclear plant in Syria"

Looks like the Israelis are going to get to bomb another nuclear reactor.

[Alexander's Horse]

Right - so Israel is allowed to illegally develop nuclear weapons and secretly keep over 200 nuclear weapons on a conservative estimate but Syria isn't allowed to have a nuclear power plant, is that what you are saying Eli?