This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
6 June 1963
Syria becomes a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
—"IAEA Membership, Safeguards Agreement, Physical Protection and Nuclear Safety," Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regime, 2002 Edition, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/inven/pdfs/apmiaea.pdf.
5-10 June 1967
Following months of escalating tensions with Syria and other Arab neighbors, culminating in the withdrawal of the UN Emergency Force, Israel launches a pre-emptive strike against Egyptian air forces, thus initiating what became known as the Six Day War against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Syria consequently looses the control of the Golan Heights.
—"Timeline: Syria," BBC News, 7 May 2003, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/827580.stm>; "Timeline: Egypt," BBC News, 3 March 2003, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/
country_profiles/790978.stm>.
1 July 1968
Possibly motivated by its losses in the Six Day War, Syria signs the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
—"Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements: NPT, Syria," UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, Accessed on 8 June 2003, <http://disarmament.un.org/
TreatyStatus.nsf>.
24 September 1969
Syria ratifies the NPT. This paves the way for Syria to take part in the IAEA's technical cooperation projects in nuclear research.
—"Multilateral Arms Regulation and Disarmament Agreements: NPT, Syria," UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, Accessed on 8 June 2003,
.
1979
Syria establishes the Atomic Energy Commission (AECS).
—Vienna Kappell, et al., "Syria," Handbook of Nuclear Countries 1996/97 (Berlin: Lexikographisches Institut, 1997), p. 247.
1979-1986
In cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Syrian Atomic Energy Commission and the Ministry of Electricity carry out a feasibility study on introduction of nuclear power to Syria and receive advice from the IAEA on planning a nuclear power program.
—"SYR/0/003: Nuclear Energy Planning," International Atomic Energy Agency,
<http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>, completed 10 June 1986.
1982
According to indictment papers filed in an Italian court on 5 June 1984, an Italian arms smuggling ring had intended to sell Syria "three complete nuclear weapons." Mr. Glauco Partel, a key intermediary in the transaction, denied the existence of any weapons and stated that the deal was a set-up by U.S. intelligence to establish which Middle Eastern countries were interested in acquiring nuclear weapons. Partel claimed in his 1983 interrogation that he made contact with representatives in Syria, who allegedly expressed interest in obtaining the weapons.
—Leonard S. Spector, The New Nuclear Nations (New York: Vintage Books, 1985), pp. 44-48.
1982-1990
The IAEA assists the Syria's Atomic Energy Commission (AECS) in establishing an analytical laboratory, equipped with systems for atomic absorption spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, gas and liquid chromatography, fluorimetry and low-level alpha, beta, and gamma counting. The laboratory provides a range of nuclear analytical services. According to the original IAEA technical cooperation project goal, the laboratory will provide analysis of geological samples for uranium content, among other services. As part of the project, five Syrian scientists receive training in Hungary, the United States, Yugoslavia, and the IAEA laboratory at Seibersdorf, Austria.
—"SYR/1/002: Nuclear Analytical Laboratory," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1990, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>.
February 1983
Syria and the Soviet Union sign an agreement for nuclear cooperation and exchange for peaceful purposes. This agreement appears to be the only nuclear agreement signed by two countries until December 1997.
—"Syrian-Soviet Relations," 1UpInfo Country Study and Country Guide, April 1987, <http://www.1upinfo.com/country-guide-study/syria/syria102.html>.
May 1983
Syria and the Soviet Union carry out a joint study on the construction of a nuclear power reactor in Syria. The provision of a power reactor is part of an economic protocol signed by the two countries signed earlier in the year (April 1983). The feasibility reactor study concludes in early 1986, and it determines that such a reactor should be located in Northern Syria.
—"Syria and the Soviet Union are Conducting a Joint Study on the Construction...," Nucleonics Week, Vol. 24, No. 21, 26 May 1983, in Lexis-Nexis; "Israel: Syria to Be Interested in Soviet Reactor," Nucleonics Week, Vol. 27, No. 22, 29 May 1986, in Lexis-Nexis.
1984-1987
The Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) and the IAEA jointly establish and equip a nuclear training laboratory for use by the AECS and the Arab Center for the Study of Arab Zones and Dry Lands in Damascus. The laboratory equipment includes oscilloscopes, electronic tools and components, a scintillation detector, X-ray and GM counters, neutron sources and chemicals and is used to train technicians in the applications of nuclear techniques.
—"SYR/0/004: Nuclear Training Laboratory," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1987, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>.
September 1984
Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlas declares in an interview that the USSR has guaranteed Syria that if Israel "employs" nuclear weapons against it, "[the USSR] would make nuclear weapons available to [Syria]." The Soviet Union does not endorse this claim.
—"War of Liberation: A Talk with the Syrian Defense Minister," New York Review of Books, 22 November 1984, p. 40; "Syrian-Soviet Relations," 1UpInfo Country Study and Country Guide, April 1987, <http://www.1upinfo.com/country-guide-study/syria/syria102.html>.
June 1985
The Soviet Union's Atomenergoexport submits a proposal to the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) for the provision of a turn-key nuclear research center with a 10MW research reactor. The research center would be similar to the one supplied by the Soviet Union to Libya. The negotiations break down soon after they begin, most likely due to financial reasons.
—"The Syrian Atomic Energy Commission is Currently Examining...," Nucleonics Week, Vol. 26, No. 25, June 20, 1985, in Lexis-Nexis; "SYR/4/002: Research Reactor," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1991, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>.
12 October 1985
Quoting an ambassador from an Arab Gulf country, the Lebanese magazine Al-Nahar Al-Arabi Wa Al-Dawli reports that the Syrian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlas has stated that "the USSR is moving toward supplying Syria with nuclear weapons." A Soviet spokesman denies that the USSR provided any such guarantees; however, other Soviet officials reportedly confirm the agreement in principle.
—"Syrians Reportedly to Receive Nuclear Weapons," Kuwait KUNA, 12 October 1985, in FBIS, FBIS-SOV-85-199, 15 October 1985; Leonard S. Spector and Jacqueline R. Smith, Nuclear Ambitions: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons 1989-1990 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1990), p. 353, op. cit 8.
1986-1992
With assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) acquires a micro-plant facility, spare parts and chemicals to enable the recovery of yellowcake uranium on an experimental basis from the phosphoric acid produced at the commercial Syrian General Fertilizer Company Plant at Homs. The Homs plant produces phosphoric acid from phosphatic rock mined in the Charkia and Knifes deposits which contain about 60 to 100 parts per million of uranium.
The AECS plans for this project to be the first step in Syria's nuclear program; subsequent steps are to include a pilot plant, an industrial scale plant and then possibly operations such as refining, conversion, enrichment, and fuel fabrication. The IAEA technical cooperation project includes staff training in the operation of the micro-plant and uranium recovery process.
The AECS also requests assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to construct an industrial-scale pilot plant to recover uranium. Canada's Kilborn Inc. carries out a pre-feasibility study to determine whether the basic technology for extracting uranium from phosphoric acid produced at the Homs plant is feasible for an industrial-scale plant. The study concludes that the industrialization of the process is not advisable due to financial considerations.
—"MEAB-Turnkey: SAEC plant in Homs, Syria," Metallextraktion AB, <http://www.meab-mx.se/en/service_turnkey_syrien.htm>; "Uranium Recovery From Phosphoric Acid: SYR/3/003," International Atomic Energy Agency, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>, completed 30/12/1992; "SYR/3/003 – Report on Pre-feasibility Study on the Recovery of Uranium from Phosphoric Acid," International Atomic Energy Agency, Technical Cooperation Report, 12 November 1992; "Technical Cooperation Report for 2001," GC(46)/INF/4, International Atomic Energy Agency, 2001, p. 39, <http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/About/Policy/GC/GC46/
Documents/gc46inf-4.pdf>.
1986-1996
The IAEA assists the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) in upgrading its nuclear electronics laboratory by providing spare parts and components for indigenous design and construction of necessary instruments to improve the AECS capability for maintenance and repair of nuclear instruments. As a part of the project, AECS personnel is trained in subjects such as the repair, maintenance, and servicing of nuclear instruments and in the design and construction of modular electronic units for research activities, as well as in the development of end-user oriented nuclear instruments and associated interfaces for advanced data processing and presentation.
—"SYR/4/003: Nuclear Electronics," and "SYR/4/005: Nuclear Electronics (Phase II)," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1986-1996, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/
projectsbycountry/query/default.asp>.
1988
According to Israeli sources, the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) establishes a $3.6 billion plan for the construction of six nuclear power reactors, with a projected total output of 6,000MW. The reactors would begin operation in the late 1990s. Syria reportedly approaches the Soviet Union, Belgium, and Switzerland to realize this effort, but backs away from these plans later due to financial and technical reasons.
—Michael Eisenstadt, "Syria's Strategic Weapons," Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 5, No. 4 (1 April 1993); "Syria gets new missiles, aide," Middle East Defense News, Vol. 2, No. 24, October 16, 1989, in Lexis-Nexis; "Syrian plans for a nuclear reactor," The Times (London), Issue 63501, 16 September 1989, in Lexis-Nexis.
February 1989
Syria becomes one of the founding members of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency. The other founding members are Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestinian Authority, and Saudi Arabia. The agency's activities include basic research in sciences related to nuclear energy; exploration for and extraction of radioactive ores; acquisition of technical and scientific capability for establishing all stages of the fuel cycle; production and uses of radioisotopes in agriculture, medicine, and industry; and electricity production, desalination of water and other industrial activities involving atomic energy.
—Vienna Kappell et al., "Syria," Handbook of Nuclear Countries 1996/97 (Berlin: Lexikographisches Institut, 1997), p. 247; "Arab Atomic Energy Agency: Organization of the Agency," Nuclear Law Bulletin, v. 54, p. 64 (Nuclear Energy Agency, 1994/04).
Early 1990s
The Der Al-Hadjar Nuclear Research Center (also known as Dayr al Hajar or Der Al-Hadjar), is constructed. It houses Syria's only research reactor, the Chinese-supplied Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR). The location of the Der Al-Hadjar Center is unclear. Some sources state that the Center is 30km from Damascus, while other sources list a Syrian nuclear research center as being 140km from Damascus. This however might refer to the new nuclear research center that Syria is building with assistance from Russia. The National Imagery and Mapping Agency's Geographic Names Database (GND) lists a "Dahr el Hajar" at 34.43 N and 36.00 E, which is about 140km north of Damascus. Research at the center includes nuclear physics and chemistry; use of radiation and radioisotopes in medicine, agriculture, biology, and geology; exploration of radioactive ores; management and procedures for the use of radioactive resources; protection from radiation; and the effects from radiation on humans and the environment.
—"Syria," Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 January Through 30 June 2002, CIA, April 2003, <http://www.cia.gov/>; A. George, "Syria Takes Delivery Of Its Chinese Reactor," Nuclear Engineering International, v. 12/93, pp. 46-47, 1 December 1993; "Geographic Names Database," National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Accessed on 18 June 2003, <http://gnpswww.nima.mil/geonames/GNS/index.jsp>; "Russian Nuclear Assistance to Syria: Scam or Scandal?" Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2003, <http://www.meib.org/articles/0301_s1.htm>; M.E. Eads, International Research Centers Directory, 11 ed. (1999), p. 326.
1990-1995
In 1990, Syria concludes a deal with Argentina's National Institute of Applied Research (INVAP) and the Argentine National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEA) for the purchase of a 10MW research reactor for isotope production along with uranium fuel enriched to 20% U-235. Under pressure from the United States, the Argentine government in turn pressures INVAP to pull out of the deal. Negotiations for export of the research reactor continue until July 1995, when Argentina announces that the reactor sale would be conditional on the Syrian-Israeli peace treaty. [Some sources cite the capacity of the reactor as between 5MW and 20MW.]
—Mark Hibbs, "INVAP Seeks Thai Reactor Sale; Syria Expected to Sue for Supply," Nucleonics Week, Vol. 35, No. 43, 27 October 1994, in Lexis-Nexis; Mark Hibbs, "Peace Talks, Not Prolfieration, Inhibit Argentina-Syria Deal," Nucleonics Week, 1 August 1995, in Lexis-Nexis; "News: Syrian nuclear accord signed," Power in Latin America, 1 October 1995, in Lexis-Nexis; "Argentina to sell Syria nuclear reactor for medical purposes only after peace..." Mideast Mirror, Vol. 9, No. 140, 24 July 1995, in Lexis-Nexis.
April 1990
Syria approaches the Soviet Union for the purchase of up to four VVER-1000 reactors as well as uranium fuel. Syria reportedly cancels plans to buy the VVER-1000 reactors because of financial and "technical" reasons.
—P. Rubina, "The Soviet Union is Considering a Syrian Request to Purchase a Nuclear Power Plant," (Hebrew), Davar, 25 November 1991, as cited in Michael Eisenstadt, "Syria's Strategic Weapons," Jane's Intelligence Review, Vol. 5, No. 4 (1 April 1993).
1991
China begins construction of Syria's first research reactor, the SRR-1, a 30KW miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) modeled after the Canadian Slowpoke reactor. Its main purpose is Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), training, and small-scale radioisotope production. The reactor is installed in the Der Al-Hadjar Nuclear Research Center with the help of the IAEA as part of Technical Cooperation Project SYR/4/004. According to some analysts, the Syrian MNSR is unsuitable for weapons production.
—"Syria," Research Reactors Database, International Atomic Energy Agency, updated 26 September 2002, <http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/>; George, A., "Syria Takes Delivery Of Its Chinese Reactor," Nuclear Engineering International, v. 12/93, pp. 46-47, 1 December 1993; I. Khamis, "The Role of Small Research Reactors in Developing Countries: the Syrian Perspective," Small Research Reactor Workshop, International Center for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences, 13-17 January 2003, <http://www.icens.org/Reactor_Workshop/Sessions_5__6___7/
sessions_5__6___7.htm>; "SYR/4/004: Miniature Neutron Source Reactor," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1998, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>; Anthony H. Cordesman, "Syria and Weapons of Mass Destruction," Israel and Lebanon: The New Military and Strategic Realities, Rough Draft, October 2000, Center for Strategic and International Studies, <http://www.csis.org/stratassessment/reports/syriaWMD.pdf>.
1991
India's Atomic Energy Commission offers to supply Syria with a 5MW research reactor, which Syria reportedly seriously considers. When pressured by the United States, India withdraws its offer.
—Neel Patri, "India's AEC offers to reprocess, under safeguards, foreign spent fuel," Nuclear Fuel, Vol. 16, No. 11, 27 May 1991, in Lexis-Nexis; Neel Patri, "Costs will keep India from making year 2000 nuclear building target," Nucleonics Week, Vol. 32, No. 35, 29 August 1991, in Lexis-Nexis; Mark Hibbs, "INVAP seeks Thai reactor sale; Syria expected to sue for supply," Nucleonics Week, Vol. 35, No. 43, 27 October 1994, in Lexis-Nexis.
January 1992
According to undisclosed but "reliable" sources in Paris and Lebanon, Syrian and Iranian military representatives enter an agreement on strategic cooperation, including nuclear weapons production.
—"Syria, Iran Reportedly in Nuclear Weapons Pact," Hamburg DPA, 23 January 1992, in FBIS, FBIS-NES-92-016, 24 January 1992; "An Iranian Nuclear Chronology, 1987-1992," Middle East Defense News, Vol. 5, No. 17 and 18, 8 June 1992, in Lexis-Nexis.
24 March 1992
The Syrian parliament, the People's Assembly, endorses an agreement between Syria, China, and the IAEA allowing for the puchase of the 30KW MNSR from China, which the latter had begun building the previous year. During the same session, the Assembly approves the NPT comprehensive safeguards agreement between Syria and the IAEA.
—"Assembly Endorses Nonproliferation Safeguards," Damascus Syrian Arab Republic Radio Network, 24 March 1992, in FBIS, FBIS-NES-92-058, 25 March 1992.
3 August 1992
Middle East Defense News (Mednews) reports that Syria has established a procurement network operating in France and Spain to obtain clandestinely "thousand-ton quantities" of yellowcake. The Mednews source claims that a Damascus-based company called MIDTEC (Middle East Technical Bureau) is one of the fronts for these purchases. According to the source, the government of Namibia has recently agreed to sell yellowcake to a Syrian "procurement team."
—"Syria seeks uranium," Mednews, 3 August 1992, Vol. 5, No. 21, in Lexis-Nexis.
1993
The IAEA completes a four-year technical assistance project with Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) to establish a non-destructive testing (NDT) laboratory at AECS and to provide equipment, advice and training to AECS personnel in basic NDT techniques. The laboratory is being used for routine NDT training and provides NDT services to local industries and other agencies in Syria.
—"SYR/8/003: Non-Destructive Testing Laboratory," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1993,
<http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>.
October 1995-September 1996
The IAEA coordinates a series of advisory group meetings on the introduction of small- and medium-sized reactors in developing countries, held in Rabat, Morocco and Tunis, Tunisia. The Syrian delegation presents an analysis of Syrian energy demands and argues that there is a need to implement an average of 500MW of power annually until the year 2003. The presentation also stresses the need for nuclear power to Syria.
—I. Khamis and A. Hainoun, "Market potential of small and medium power reactors in Syria," Conference Report, Advisory Group Meetings on Introduction of Small and Medium Reactors in Developing Countires, IAEA-TECDOC-909, IAEA, 1 February 1998, via ETDEWEB, <http://www.etde.org/etdeweb/>.
1995-1999
The IAEA supplies various items, including radiation monitoring equipment, for a neutron activation analytical laboratory in Syria. The Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) uses the laboratory for neutron activation analysis, production of short-lived radioisotopes, and training by utilizing its Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR).
—"SYR/4/006: Neutron Activation Analytical Laboratory," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1999, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>.
1996
The IAEA approves a project for the construction of a cyclotron facility for Atomic Energy Commission of Syria's (AECS) Nuclear Medicine Center in Damascus and initiates construction of the facility in 1997. The facility will be used for the production of radioisotopes for medical purposes. The Cyclon-30 cyclotron is provided by Belgium's Ion Beam Applications. The project timeframe involves cyclotron order and facility design in 1996-1997; building construction and hot cell equipment order and installation in 1997-1999; and cyclotron installation in 1998-1999. [Note: Ion Beam Applications also supplied a cyclotron of the same model to the Karaj center in Iran. Analysts suspect that Iran might be using the cyclotron to conduct enrichment research.]
—"SYR/4/007: Cyclotron Facility for Medical Radioisotopes," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1997, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>; "Customer References," IBA website, accessed on 25 May 2003, <http://www.iba-ri.com/ri/index.htm>; Kenneth R. Timmerman, "Iran's Nuclear Program: Myth and Reality," The Middle East Data Project, Inc., 1995, <http://www.uspid.dsi.unimi.it/proceed/cast95/ItalyIran.html>.
1996
Syria signs a contract with the IAEA and an unnamed county that will supply equipment to improve Syria's technical capabilities in removing uranium from triple super phosphate produced in the fertilizer plant at Homs. [The project is completed in 2001.]
—"Technical Cooperation Report for 2001," GC(46)/INF/4, International Atomic Energy Agency, 2001, p. 39, <http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/About/Policy/GC/GC46/Documents/
gc46inf-4.pdf>.
1996
The Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) carries out a preliminary investigation to determine whether it is possible to apply the solvent extraction method to recover uranium from phosphoric acid produced at the Homs plant. Tri-superphosphates are produced at Homes at the rate of 165,000t per year. The investigation concludes that it is technically feasible to recover uranium by this method.
—Khorfan, S. Koudsi, Y. Dahdouh, and A. Shlweit, "Preliminary investigation on the extraction of uranium from Syrian phosphoric acid," International Conference on Uranium Extraction, Chinese Nuclear Society, 1996, via INIS.
4 March 1996
Syria's first research reactor SRR-1, the Chinese-supplied Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR), goes critical.
—"Syria," Research Reactors Database, International Atomic Energy Agency, updated 26 September 2002, <http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/rrdb/>.
1997
Syria approaches the IAEA and receives approval for the construction of an ion beam accelerator and the accelerator facility to improve Syria's research capabilities by introducing accelerator technology to analysis of materials and development of semiconductors and alloys through ion implantation. Syria finances the project with its own for $1 million.
—"SYR/8/008: Ion Beam Accelerator For Materials Development And Analysis," IAEA Technical Cooperation Projects, 1997, <http://www-tc.iaea.org/tcweb/tcprogramme/projectsbycountry/
query/default.asp>; "Technical Cooperation Report for 2001," GC(46)/INF/4, International Atomic Energy Agency, 2001, p. 48, <http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/About/Policy/GC/GC46/Documents/
gc46inf-4.pdf>.
December 1997-February 1998
The intergovernmental Russian-Syrian Commission on Trade and Scientific and Technical Cooperation concludes a three-day meeting with a signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy and Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS), which will serve as a foundation for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Russian government approves the spirit of the memorandum in December 1997 by declaring that it "supports the [AECS]' proposal that cooperation with [Syria] in peaceful uses of atomic energy should be stepped up."
—"Yadernoye Sotrudnichestvo Rossii I Sirii" ("Nuclear Cooperation of Russia and Syria"), Kommersant-Daily, 24 February 1998; "Syria, Russia Sign Agreements on Bilateral Cooperation," ITAR-TASS, 23 February 1998, in FBIS, FTS19980223001264; "Russia, Syria to Steop Up Cooperation in Nuclear Energy," Interfax, 23 December 1997, in FBIS, FTS19971223001269; "Russia Negotiating Sale of Nuclear Reactor to Syria," Ha'aretz, 31 December 1997, in FBIS, FTS19971231000151.
June-July 1998
The Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) and the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy sign an agreement, according to which Russia's Atomstroieksport and Nikiet will construct a center for nuclear research to be located 140km from Damascus. The center will be equipped with a 25MW light water pool-type research reactor. The agreement also provides for Syrian students to train in Russia at the Engineering and Physics Institute. Construction of the center reportedly began some time in the late 1980s, but was suspended in 1992 due to lack of funds. [The official, 10-year agreement on cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which included the construction of the nuclear research center, was signed in May 1999.]
—"Nuclear Agreement between Syria and Russia," Science, 20 July 1998; "Novosti Minatoma" ("Minatom News"), Atom-Pressa, No. 25, 15 July 1998; Oleg Lebedev, "Russia, Syria Agree on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy," Moscow RIA, 6 July 1998, in FBIS, FTS19980707000041, 7 July 1998; "Russia to Construct Syrian Nuclear Research Center," Interfax, 20 May 1999, in FBIS, FTS19990520001548, 20 May 1999.
22 May 1999
As part of the 1997 cooperation agreement, Russia and Syria sign an agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which stipulates that Russia will build Syria two nuclear reactors to be used for production of electricity. According to Ibrahim Osman, the Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) Director General, this cooperation will enable Syria to "build a competent nuclear facility that can monitor all kinds of atomic energy and its uses." It is unclear whether the agreement entails the construction of research or power reactors. While the Dubayy Al-Bayan source claims that the reactors will be used for electricity production, which suggests a power reactor, the Middle East Intelligence Bulletin source claims that the agreement entails the construction of a 25MW light water research reactor, which would be unsuitable for electricity production.
—Dubayy Al Bayan, 23 May 1999, in FBIS, "Syria Gets Nuclear Reactors from Russia," FTS19990530000096, 30 May 1999; Anna Bazhenova, "Russia, Syria Sign Agreement on Peaceful Atomic Energy," ITAR-TASS, 19 May 1999, in FBIS, FTS19990519000969; "Russian Nuclear Assistance to Syria: Scam or Scandal?" Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2003, <http://www.meib.org/articles/0301_s1.htm>.
6 July 1999
Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad and Russian President Boris Yeltsin issue a joint statement urging the turning of the Middle East into a region free of weapons of mass destruction, most important of which are nuclear weapons.
—"Al-Asad, Yeltsin Issue Final Statement at End of Talks," Syrian Arab Television Network, 6 July 1999, in FBIS, FTS19990706001538, 6 July 1999.
2001
Syria is in the process of constructing a radioactive waste processing facility, to manage the waste resulting from the production and application of radioisotopes. Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS) has established a separate, Radioactive Waste Management Division to oversee the collection, treatment and storage of radioactive waste.
—Mohammad Ghafar, "Radioactive waste management facility in Syria," International Conference on Management of Radioactive Waste from Non-Power Applications, IAEA, Report No. IAEA-CN-87/79, 1 July 2001, via ETDEWEB, <http://www.etde.org/etdeweb/>.
2001
During a meeting of the Standing Russian-Syrian Commission for Trade and Economic, Research and Technical Cooperation, Russian and Syrian officials discuss construction of a $500 million tri-superphosphate factory near the city of Palmyra. This is part of a larger agreement to develop a plant to produce nitric fertilizers in Deyr ez-Zor and a phosphate fertilizer plant in Homs.
—"Russian, Syrian Officials to Discuss Economic Cooperation," Pravda.ru, 15 May 2001, <http://english.pravda.ru/world/2001/05/15/5237.html>.
May 2001
Bechtel Corp. and Makad International plan to construct a 500,000-ton/year triple superphosphate plant near Palmyra, but delay constructions due to financial constraints. The phosphates for the plant would come from Khunaifis Mines.
—Thomas R. Yager, "The Mineral Industries of Jordan, Lebanon and Syria," U.S. Geological Survey, 2001, <http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2001/jolesymyb01.pdf>.
5 December 2002
An Italian newspaper, citing an Iraqi Army officer who fled to Europe, alleges that Syria "has opened [its] research centers to Iraq's chemists and physicists and agreed to store the most compromising substances," referring to Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. The newspaper also describes the Scientific Research Institute in Damascus as Rihab Taha's "home from home." [Note: Dr. Rihab Taha, also know as "Dr. Germ," is the architect and former leader of Iraq's biological weapons program.] If allegations are true, the "compromising substances" most likely refer to chemical and biological weapons, not nuclear.
—Pino Buongiorno, "The People Arming Saddam," Panorama (Milan), 5 December 2002, in "Iraq Moving NBC Program to Syria; Yugoslav President Endorsed Embargo Breaking," FBIS, EUP20021129000145, 5 December 2002.
January 2003
Russia and Syria reportedly enter into negotiations for the construction of a $2 billion nuclear facility in Syria, which would include a nuclear power plant and a nuclear seawater-desalination plant. While stating that no agreement has been reached, the head of Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) initially confirms that the discussion over supplying Syria with a power plant and a desalination plant is taking place. A Minatom spokesman Nikolai Shingarev later states that Russia had provided Syria with consulting services in 2001 with regards to building a power plant and a water-desalination plant and the two countries came to a preliminary agreement on Russia's potential participation in the power plant construction, however, Shingarev added, Syria abandoned the project due to financial constraints. A spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry denied that any discussion of the construction of a nuclear plant in Syria had even taken place.
—Andrew Jack, Stephen Fidler, and Roula Khalaf, "Russia in talks to build Syrian nuclear reactor," Financial Times, 16 January 2003; "Russia denies plans to build nuclear power plant in Syria," RosBusinessConsulting, January 16, 2003, via Lexis-Nexis, 17 January 2003; "Alexander Yakovenko, the Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Russian and Foreign Media Question Regarding Israeli Media Reports About Construction of Two Nuclear Power Plants in Syria," Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, 15 January 2003, <http://www.ln.mid.ru/bl.nsf/900b2c3ac91734634325698f002d9dcf/
c751a940a22061a343256cb00034b9aa?OpenDocument>; "Russian Nuclear Assistance to Syria: Scam or Scandal?" Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 1, January 2003, <http://www.meib.org/articles/0301_s1.htm>.
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