RUSSIA INTERESTED IN SALE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR TO SYRIA ISRAEL LINE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1997 According to an official statement, the Russian government is interested in selling a nuclear reactor to Syria, HA'ARETZ reported. Syria has not sought a nuclear reactor since two years ago, when the United States pressured Argentina into abandoning its proposed sale of a reactor to Syria. The announcement, made via the Russian Interfax news agency, stated, "The Russian government supports the [Russian] Atomic Energy Ministry's proposal that cooperation with the Syrian Arab Republic in peaceful uses of atomic energy should be stepped up." Consistent with the Russian statement, Syria has claimed in the past that it was interested in nuclear research for medical rather than military purposes, but Israel has opposed such a reactor on the grounds that it would serve as an important step toward the building of a nuclear weapon. Regarding the new development, a senior U.S. official said, "We believe Russia is exploring the prospect of some form of nuclear cooperation with Syria." Israeli officials refused to confirm or deny Russian interest in a possible deal. However, security officials said that there is a pattern to the recent increase in Russian involvement in the Middle East, spearheaded by Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov. One official said, "Russia is trying by force to play a bigger role in the Middle East, whether it is ballistic missile sales to Iran, or weakening U.N. sanctions on Iraq, or maintaining military ties with Syria. It wants to utilize its existing assets in the region not just to gain economic benefit, but also for what it deems to be strategic purposes since it regards the Middle East as its backyard." ISRAEL LINE
