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Last update - 16:08 30/06/2008 Syrian FM: I wish Syria had Israel's nuclear arsenal By Reuters Tags: IAEA, Israel, Nuclear, Syria Syria's foreign minister said on Monday he wished his country could match Israel's atomic arsenal, but denied U.S. allegations that it had been building a secret nuclear reactor at a site bombed by Israel last year. Walid al-Moualem, making Syria's first official comments on last week's visit to the site by U.N. nuclear investigators, said it had been handled solely by Syrian security officials. "Syria would not have allowed the inspectors in if it had such a secret (nuclear) program," Moualem told reporters after meeting his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Stoere. Advertisement "As a private citizen, I wish Syria had this program quite simply because Israel has made huge advances in its manufacturing of nuclear bombs," the foreign minister said. Syria has accused the United States of helping Israel conduct the Sept. 6 raid that Washington said destroyed a reactor built with the help of North Korea. Syria said the site was a normal military complex. Israeli officials have kept quiet on the nature of the target. Unlike Syria, Israel has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty. It is widely believed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East, developed over decades with Western help. Investigators from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said after a four-day visit to Syria last week that they had examined the bombed site, but that more checks were needed. Chief inspector Olli Heinonen said the inquiry was off to a good start, with Syria's cooperation satisfactory so far. Syria said it was not hiding anything from U.N. inspectors and urged the world community to hold Israel accountable for what it described as a massive Israeli nuclear arms program. The IAEA sent Heinonen's team after receiving U.S. photos of the al-Kibar site that prompted the U.N. nuclear watchdog to put Syria on its proliferation watch list in April. The IAEA inspectorate is expected to report its findings in Syria to the agency's board of governors before its next meeting in September. Syria and Israel began indirect peace talks months after the raid. Moualem said the Turkish-mediated talks had their "ups and downs" but he expected a third round of negotiations to take place in Turkey soon. "The present negotiations process aims at establishing the basis to launch direct talks. We have an opportunity to reach a just and comprehensive peace. I hope the Israelis do not waste it by their internal wrangling," Moualem said. Divisions appeared in Israel's ruling coalition last month with the launch of a police investigation into money that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received from an American financier while in previous government positions. Syria is demanding Israel returns all of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the Middle East war 41 years ago. Israeli officials have said a peace deal depends on Damascus distancing itself from Iran and cutting links to groups such as Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Related articles: French sources: Syria ready to 'reconsider' its ties with Iran What the public wants UN to inspect Syria site of alleged nuclear reactor bombed by IAF Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death penalty Iran hands down death sentence to man who spied for Israel. Robot hospital The place where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire.   1.   Even if Assad is sincere (?) ... 15:16  |  jean Van Daem 30/06/08   2.   Israel must give up its nukes 15:26  |  Dav 30/06/08   3.   Syria can come under the Israeli nuclear umbrella 16:08  |  Realist 30/06/08   4.   nuclear free middle east 16:23  |  matt 30/06/08   5.   Nukes 16:37  |  jeremy 30/06/08   6.   To #2 If Israel gave up its nuclear weapons.... 16:39  |  Roxy 30/06/08   7.   The Golan 16:53  |  Meir 30/06/08   8.   THEIR other weapons of mass destruction are not cotton candy 17:21  |  PETER SM 30/06/08   9.   You`re a funny guy Dav. Are you going to make us? 17:32  |  x-ray 30/06/08   10.   #1 Jean Van Daem Stop rationalizing! 18:05  |  Jim 30/06/08   11.   No, Jim, learn history 18:24  |  jackie 30/06/08   12.   #4 matt Iran? Insist? 18:26  |  Jim 30/06/08   13.   Dav The US must give up its nuke or face the music 18:38  |  Ramius 30/06/08   14.   barbarous regimes will never be permitted nukes 18:38  |  frenz 30/06/08   15.   Jeremy say hello to the radioisotopes in your future 18:41  |  Ramius 30/06/08   16.   #7 Mair 18:41  |  Jim 30/06/08   17.   Why is the question??? 18:50  |  Jo 30/06/08   18.   4 18:59  |  zionist forever 30/06/08   19.   Syrian nonsense 19:05  |  Morris Valentine 30/06/08   20.   #11 jackie 19:08  |  Jim 30/06/08   21.   re 2 19:14  |  mark 30/06/08   22.   the Golan has kept the peace a treaty would create instability 19:19  |  zionist forever 30/06/08   23.   #19 Morris Valentine 19:29  |  Jim 30/06/08   24.   Dav #2 19:45  |  Bobby 30/06/08   25.   #22 zionist forever 20:11  |  Jim 30/06/08   26.   Mark B.: I wish I had Gaydamak`s money 20:48  |  Mark B. 30/06/08   27.   Politics of envy and honor 22:31  |  Schtarker Yid 30/06/08   28.   Lol, I wish that was true, we certain face damascus destruction 22:38  |  JP 30/06/08   29.   Olmerd´s twisted talk 22:40  |  JP 30/06/08   30.   zionist forever - The golan has created a permanent state of war 23:20  |  Isreali 30/06/08   31.   Nukes? what nukes? 23:42  |  dyinglikeflies 30/06/08   32.   #6 03:29  |  M. S from Edmonton 01/07/08   33.   syria should start a war 08:32  |  VIPER 02/07/08

Read & React UN peacekeepers in Lebanon forced to delete photos of suspicious wires Responses: 47 ANALYSIS / Who will strike first - Israel or Iran? Responses: 52 Alexander Yakobson: Expected cost of prisoners for bodies is more Israeli bodies Responses: 1 Carlo Strenger: Israel will recover its morality only when W. Bank horrors end Responses: 6 Rosner's Domain Why do Arabs support Hamas over Fatah? New poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? The possibility of an Israeli air strike on Iran (WTR) Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman? Israel's image still under renovation More Headlines 10:07 Israel reopens four crossings on Gaza border 09:54 UN troops in Lebanon forced to delete images of underground cables 22:35 State Dept. denies report Israel likely to attack Iran this year 10:00 Israel's saber-rattling against Iran could backfire 09:59 Why do Arabs prefer Hamas over Fatah? 04:55 President gets first Druze military aide 08:37 Hezbollah trains Shi'ite militias in Iraq on Iran's behalf 05:45 Inquiries in U.S. bolster fraud case against PM 07:45 Syria demands release of Golan Druze as condition for peace 04:04 Convicted sex offender sent home instead of to prison 05:16 Vilnai: Arms smuggling continues, despite Egypt 06:45 Police source: New probe in Barak NPO affair unlikely Previous Editions Select Day 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun

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