Russia is planning to Build a Nuclear Reactor in Syria

Eli · January 15, 2003, 04:53

(looking for English sources...)

Eli · January 15, 2003, 04:54

http://www.interfax.ru/one_news_en.h...d_news=5614908

Quote:

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 · January 15, 2003, 04:59

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

aaglo · January 15, 2003, 05:46

DRoseDARs - Everybody loves it....

Harovan · January 15, 2003, 05:47

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

KrazyHorse · January 15, 2003, 05:50

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

DRoseDARs · January 15, 2003, 05:54

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 · January 15, 2003, 06:51

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 · January 15, 2003, 06:55

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 · January 15, 2003, 07:12

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.

BeBro · January 15, 2003, 07:38

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 · January 15, 2003, 08:00

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 · January 15, 2003, 08:15

Quote:

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 ?

Quote:

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.

Quote:

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.

Oerdin · January 15, 2003, 08:21

"Russia could build nuclear plant in Syria"

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

Alexander's Horse · January 15, 2003, 08:41

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?

Eli · January 15, 2003, 09:14

Yes.

Sava · January 15, 2003, 10:09

What do you mean, illegally? Israel's entire nuclear arsenal is stamped, "Made in the USA".

DinoDoc · January 15, 2003, 10:21

Would it make you feel better if it was your former benefactors (The French) building the reactor?

When are you going to blow this one up? I assume this one would be easier to do than the ones in Iran.

Sava · January 15, 2003, 10:23

pfffft, if this were America, we'd blow the sh!t outta those reactors too...

Eli · January 15, 2003, 10:29

Now Russia says that it was a mistake. They say that there were talks but no agreement.

DinoDoc · January 15, 2003, 10:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Eli
Now Russia says that it was a mistake. They say that there were talks but no agreement.

So you can calm down now?

Eli · January 15, 2003, 10:43

No. They're still building the Irani ones.

axi · January 15, 2003, 11:48

Israel cannot tell other nations what to do with nuclear power. Israel was the first country to blatantly disregard nuclear non-proliferation.

There were functioning nuclear reactors in Yugoslavia all along the war. Nobody thought that the Serbs would do anything with them other than produce power and nobody thought of bombing them.

Az · January 15, 2003, 12:45

ok. I say we should give nukes to turkey.

Richelieu · January 15, 2003, 12:47

And Greece...

Az · January 15, 2003, 12:49

and EVERYONE!!!!!!

Richelieu · January 15, 2003, 12:53

I want a red one.

DinoDoc · January 15, 2003, 12:57

Quote:

Originally posted by axi
Israel was the first country to blatantly disregard nuclear non-proliferation.

You mean to say France.

Bereta_Eder · January 15, 2003, 12:58

Go Syria

Az · January 15, 2003, 13:05

can I quote you on this in the 'turkey abuses human rights' threads that you have a tendency to start.

Richelieu, we're out of red ones. would you like a pink one instead, or do you want to come back next week?