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Brazil Says It Cooperates With Nuclear Inspectors
Brazil’s foreign minister said yesterday his country is cooperating with U.N. nuclear inspectors seeking access to a uranium enrichment plant being built near Rio de Janeiro, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, April 5). Foreign Minister Celso Amorim denied reports in Sunday’s Washington Post that Brazil impeded International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors’ examination of the Resende facility. “The idea that we are prohibiting inspectors from coming to the country is unfounded,” Amorim said. “We have not banned access to any facilities,” he added. Science and Technology Minister Eduardo Campos acknowledged that IAEA inspectors in February and March were not allowed to examine a uranium centrifuge. Campos said Brazil is negotiating new inspection methods with the agency for when the facility enters its experimental phase in October in order to safeguard new Brazilian technology. “Brazil must also have the possibility of protecting its technology, a technology that was developed in Brazil,” Amorim said. The U.S. State Department urged Brazil to cooperate with the agency and said its recent commitment to nonproliferation has been adequate. “While Brazil’s nonproliferation record over the past two decade is a good one, we believe the IAEA should have all the tools required to monitor compliance with (the) nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and IAEA obligations,” said a department official. The official added that U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham will visit Brazil this month to discuss nonproliferation with his Brazilian counterpart (Agence France-Presse/Channel News Asia, April 6).
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