Russia Stands Against U.N. Action on Syria

Friday, June 10, 2011
Russia on Thursday hinted it might block any attempt to have the U.N. Security Council penalize Syria for failing to comply with an ongoing probe of a suspected bombed nuclear reactor, the New York Times reported (see GSN, June 9).
Russia, China and four other members of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation governing board voted against a resolution to involve the Security Council in the U.N. nuclear watchdog's dispute with Damascus. The motion -- advanced by the United States and its allies -- passed on Thursday with backing from 17 nations on the board.
Moscow and Beijing both hold permanent Security Council seats and veto authority over all decisions by the body. Brazil, India and India -- all nonpermanent council members -- have raised questions as well over possible action against Damascus.
Intelligence assessments from the United States reportedly indicate Syria's Dair Alzour facility had housed a reactor being built with North Korean aid and intended to produce weapon-usable plutonium. Damascus has rejected accusations it engaged in illicit nuclear activities, but it has denied multiple IAEA requests for return visits to Dair Alzour since inspectors found traces of anthropogenic natural uranium during a June 2008 inspection of the site.
The IAEA board resolution asserted that Syria's "noncompliance" with its global commitments was cause for referral to the Security Council for possible punitive action
Moscow, though, said the decision to send Syria to the United Nations was rooted in bias and conjectural data.
“The situation in this country, in our view, does not present a threat to international peace and security,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.
In arguing against the body's involvement in the Syrian dispute, Russia has contended that a Security Council resolution laid the groundwork for NATO's military involvement in Libya, according to envoys (see GSN, May 18; Dan Bilefsky, New York Times, June 9).
The IAEA board also pressed Syria to abide by the Additional Protocol to its atomic inspections arrangement, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said in a statement. The Additional Protocol enables IAEA inspectors to conduct snap inspections of atomic facilities and access additional information about nuclear activities in member states (International Atomic Energy Agency release, June 9).
The board's resolution on Syria "marks a significant action by the international community to uphold the nonproliferation rules of the road," the White House said in a statement.
"As the IAEA reports, with assistance from North Korea, Syria attempted to build a secret nuclear reactor capable of producing large amounts of nuclear weapons-usable plutonium, but with no apparent legitimate civilian purpose," according to the statement. "Syria has stonewalled and obstructed the efforts of the IAEA to investigate the nuclear reactor for years, refusing to provide access to associated sites, personnel and documents in violation of Syria’s freely accepted legal obligations.
"With this resolution, the board has referred Syria to the U.N. Security Council for further deliberation, consistent with the board’s mandate and authorities when confronted with noncompliance," the White House said.
"The United States remains determined to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. We will work with partners and allies around the world to stand together to insist that every country meet its responsibilities or be held accountable for its actions," it added (White House release, June 9).
The State Department in a press release demanded that Damascus "fully cooperate with the IAEA by providing necessary access to all sites, items, and information related to the Dair Alzour investigation and allow the IAEA to verify that Syria is fully complying with its safeguards agreement.
"Syria is challenging the authority of the IAEA and the integrity of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime. The only way Syria can demonstrate that it has come back into full compliance with the NPT is by cooperating with the IAEA and providing the necessary information and access" the document states (U.S. State Department release, June 9).