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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Damascus presses unlikely drive for seat on IAEA board |
| 2008-10-03 |
| Despite opposition from the West and the United States in particular, Syria appears determined to pursue its bid for a seat on the UN atomic watchdog's board, now that Iran is officially out of the running. But in a looming clash at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) general conference here this week, Afghanistan - a US ally - also announced its candidature on Wednesday. Diplomats said Kabul enjoys the support of most of the IAEA's 145 member countries. The matter comes up for discussion on Friday and could be forced to a vote. Members of the IAEA's 35-strong board of governors are designated and elected each year by the body's highest policy-making body, the General Conference. Decisions are traditionally adopted by consensus, but if no consensus is possible, it goes to a vote. A seat has become free for the so-called Middle East and South Asia (MESA) group with the expiry of Pakistan's one-year term. Iran had also been seen as a potential candidate, but it pulled out in favor of its staunch regional ally Syria. If MESA cannot agree on a single country, it will be up to the General Conference to vote between the different candidates. For the US and others, however, Syria would be unacceptable because of current allegations by the US and Israel that it was building a covert nuclear facility at a remote desert site called Al-Kibar until it was destroyed by an Israeli air strike in September 2007. Damascus has dismissed the charges as "ridiculous" and allowed IAEA experts to inspect the suspected site in June. "Having Syria on the board would be like having a suspected arsonist oversee the fire brigade," one conference participant told AFP on condition of anonymity. But Syria refuses to withdraw its candidacy, in spite of US-led opposition, saying it has the support of the Arab League. |
| Posted by:Fred |