Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., October 20, 2007 , | | Israel Time: 11:45 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 07:17 18/10/2007 UN blames interpreter's error for report Syria has nuclear facility By The Associated Press The United Nations on Wednesday blamed an interpreter's error for an erroneous report that Syria said an Israeli airstrike hit a Syrian nuclear facility, a mistake that made headlines in the Middle East and heightened concerns over Damascus' nuclear ambitions. Syria denied on Wednesday that one of its representatives told the UN General Assembly's First Committee, which deals with disarmament issues, on Tuesday that Israel had attacked a Syrian nuclear facility and added that such facilities do not exist in Syria. Advertisement The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA, quoting an unnamed Foreign Ministry source, said its representative was misquoted - and after more than seven hours of investigation the United Nations said that was indeed the case. "There was an interpretation error made yesterday when the First Committee was in session," UN associate spokesman Farhan Haq said. "There was no use of the word nuclear." Although in English the interpreter had suggested that the Syrian delegate had referred to an attack on a nuclear facility, what he said was 'like what happened on the 6th of September against my country,' Haq said. The incident started Tuesday night with a UN press summary of the disarmament committee which paraphrased an unnamed Syrian representative as saying that Israel was the fourth largest exporter of weapons of mass destruction and a violator of other nations' airspace, and it had taken action against nuclear facilities, including the 6 July attack in Syria. Israel Air Force warplanes carried out a strike in northeastern Syria near the border with Turkey on September 6, not July 6. The target remains unknown but widespread reports say it may have been a nascent nuclear facility, a claim Syria has denied. At UN headquarters in New York, the spokesman's office said Wednesday morning the Syrian representative spoke in Arabic. After several hours, Haq said the exact words of the English interpreter were: "An entity that is the fourth largest exporter of weapons of mass destruction in the world, an entity that violates other countries' airspace, and that takes action against nuclear facilities, including the attack on 6 July this year on a nuclear facility in my country - that entity has no right to lie, which it has done consistently." It took until late afternoon for the United Nations to issue the correct translation from the original Arabic words spoken by the Syrian representative. According to the corrected text, the Syrian delegate said: "...the [entity] that is ranking number four among the exporters of lethal weapons in the world; that which violates the airspace of sovereign states and carries out military aggression against them, like what happened on September 6 against my country, such entity with all those characteristics and even more, has no right for its representative to go on lying without shame..." Israeli radio stations, citing unidentified Israeli diplomats, on Wednesday quoted the Syrians as telling the UN meeting that a nuclear target had been struck. However, the Israeli radio reports did not say whether the Israeli diplomats had attended the session or merely had read the UN press release on the meeting. President Bashar Assad said earlier this month that the target was an unused military building. Asked about the September 6 incident on Tuesday, before the erroneous report surfaced, UNSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon said we have not received any concrete evidence and concrete information. We need to get more clear information. Related articles: Syria denies it confirmed target of IAF strike was nuclear facility Report: IDF raid seized nuclear material before Syria air strike J'lem outraged by Netanyahu's admission of IAF strike on Syria Bookmark to del.icio.us Hip Hop Rabbi Marc Schneier is on a mission to improve Jewish-Muslim relations. Man in a trap Olmert has a mandate from his people, but it will not help him in light of his moral weakness   1.   But how could she have over heard the Iranian 00:18  |  Raul Benter 18/10/07   2.   "to go on lying without shame..." 00:31  |  Raul Benter 18/10/07   3.   The advantage of using one`s head (Sarah #127) 01:09  |  Tosefta 18/10/07   4.   UN 02:04  |  B 18/10/07   5.   THE BOMBING ONLY SHOWED IRAN RUSSIAN DEFENCES CAN BE OVERRIDEN)) 02:21  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 18/10/07   6.   It looks like the interpreter is Israeli disguised as an Arab? 02:23  |  nobodysacred 18/10/07   7.   Translation 02:44  |  Oman 18/10/07   8.   Tosefta LOL 03:31  |  Mark t 18/10/07   9.   We`re there ! 03:55  |  joebhed 18/10/07   10.   #5 Oman muses..... 04:52  |  Johnboy 18/10/07   11.   # 1 To Raul....Hey what about Israeli Nuclear facilities..... 05:52  |  Farooq 18/10/07   12.   Now we have it confirmed: it is an agricultural research facility 06:58  |  Dan 18/10/07   13.   REPLY TO #11 08:14  |  LARRY 18/10/07   14.   #12 Hmmm, Larry shouts out Israel`s defense 09:36  |  Johnboy 18/10/07   15.   HANG HIM 01:32  |  indrajaya 19/10/07   16.   Interpreter or not! 03:02  |  Paul 19/10/07   17.   #15 Indrajaya 10:43  |  Alan 20/10/07   18.   # 10 Johnboy muses 10:58  |  Alan 20/10/07

Today Online Israel rejects UN envoy's bid to open talks on Shaba Farms Responses: 344 Aluf Benn: Iran nuclear threat seems far more frightening from Israel Responses: 162 President Peres calls for more inclusive definition of Judaism Responses: 83 FM Livni condemns Belarusian President for anti-Semitic jibe Responses: 96 Firillas: On Armenia, what can Turkey learn from German reaction to Holocaust Responses: 52 Bar'el: Some Israeli captives are more equal than others Responses: 19 Rosner's Domain * Israel's fear: Will Rice put a bridging proposal on the table? * WTR: 75% of Americans don't believe in peace process * Egypt blames IDF soldiers for arms smuggling to Gaza * Guest: Should the Saudis attend Annapolis? More Headlines 08:01 Report: Israeli mole took pictures of Syrian nuclear facility 10:49 One killed in clashes between Hamas, Fatah-linked Gaza clan 08:13 Court gives war panel 10 days to justify lack of personal findings 11:33 Iran: Top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani has resigned 10:37 Nazi vase surrendered to authorities after public plea 10:44 Sarkozy to tell Olmert: Now is the time for peace with Palestinians 08:19 UN to act against interpreter who said Syria has 'nuclear' facility 20:12 Hezbollah slams U.S. call for 'partnership' with Lebanon army 21:31 Eight-time world surfing champion in Israel to promote peace 23:04 Egypt arrests 18 Eritreans planning to sneak into Israel Previous Editions Select Day 19 oct 18 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 12 oct 11 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct

Special Offers Advertisement learn Hebrew online with israel's best teachers. Sign up for a trial lesson today Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Israeli History Documentaries. Own a piece of Israel?s treasured past. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved