Brazil Shuns Nuclear Cooperation With Venezuela

A potential Venezuelan nuclear energy program is unlikely to receive support from Brazil if Iran is involved, Reuters reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 29, 2004).

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday his country might begin discussions with Tehran about possible nuclear energy projects, according to Reuters.

“Brazil has an accord for developing energy for peaceful ends with Argentina and the United States. There is no accord with Iran or Venezuela,” Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar said yesterday.

Venezuela has not submitted a formal request to its neighbor for nuclear energy cooperation, said a Brazilian Science and Technology Ministry spokesman.

“In the view of possible Iran participation, as President Chavez suggested, such a partnership would be risky for Brazil,” said the spokesman.

“Brazil is not interested in cooperating with countries that do not follow international treaties and whose nuclear programs are not monitored by competent authorities,” he said (Andrei Khalip, Reuters, May 23).

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