Global Security Newswire

Syria and Israel both announced their intentions today to pursue atomic energy capabilities, which for Jerusalem could lead to more international scrutiny on its widely assumed but always undeclared nuclear weapons program, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Sept. 29, 2009).

The two Middle Eastern rivals shared their plans at a Paris conference on atomic energy.

Both countries' proclamations bring up the possibility of their atomic development being closely monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency to verify that the programs do not stray into weapons activities. Iran has been under such scrutiny in the years since it acknowledged its nuclear effort (see related GSN story, today).

Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau said nuclear sites constructed in his country would have to follow rigorous security and safety protocols. He added that Jerusalem would like to establish nuclear facilities in collaboration with specialists from "our Arab neighbors."

Landau said Israel was pursuing nuclear power as a means to ensure adequate energy resources and to fight climate change. Questioned whether his nation would allow international inspectors to monitor all new nuclear sites, Landau deputy Chen Ben Lulu said Jerusalem would adhere to all applicable rules.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad said Damascus was interested in "alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy" to provide for its expanding power needs.

"The peaceful application of nuclear energy should not be monopolized by the few that own this technology but should be available to all," Mekdad said. He did not expand on particular atomic energy plans in his country.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog has been investigation Syria's atomic activities in the years since a 2007 Israeli airstrike on a suspected nuclear reactor. The agency has recently complained of lack of cooperation by Damascus, which says the destroyed facility was not a nuclear site (see GSN, March 4).

Of the two neighboring nations, Israel is thought to be nearer to achieving a nuclear energy capability by measures of its technological knowledge and infrastructure (Angela Charlton, Associated Press I/Google News, March 9).

Israel is not a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which seeks to place a cap on the number of nuclear-armed nations. It does, however, have official representation at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reuters reported.

There should be no issue with Israel constructing a civilian nuclear reactor even though it has not joined the nuclear treaty, Landau said.

"There are many countries who are not signatories to the NPT and they are doing fine. There are others which are signatories and the world community did not really take proper care against proliferation," the minister said in a likely reference to Iran (Rabinovitch/Balmer, Reuters/New York Times, March 8).

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday that underdeveloped nations need atomic energy. He called on wealthy backers to assist in the financing of a worldwide nuclear power movement, AP reported.

Sarkozy acknowledged the potential for nuclear accidents and proliferation and criticized those who "cheat" by employing nuclear technology to produce bombs. He said the international community must be "steadfast in its opposition to those countries that violate the standards for collective security."

The French president also called for an "enhanced" International Atomic Energy Agency with an expanded mandate that would grade foreign reactors on safety.

Mycle Schneider, who studies France's large nuclear industry, said Sarkozy's proposal would be "a phenomenal boost toward technology proliferation."

"Even if you don't start building a nuclear plant tomorrow, or in 10 years or 20 years, as soon as you sign a nuclear cooperation agreement, the know-how can flow," Schneider said (Keller/Charlton, Associated Press II/Yahoo!News, March 8).