Russia has assured Israel it is not planning to construct any nuclear facilities in Syria, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Natan Sharansky said Sunday, following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.
Sharansky who concluded a visit to Russia said he has been assured by Ivanov that "Russia does not have any plans to build nuclear facilities in Syria, either for peaceful or for any other purposes".
"The Russian Foreign Minister said that Russia does not plan to sell any offensive weapons to Syria that could in any way be used against Israel," the Israeli minister stated.
The Russian Foreign Ministry's official Internet site has recently posted a report, saying an agreement on the nuclear plants had already been drafted.
That report was later withdrawn and replaced two days later by a statement saying "there are no agreements concerning Russia building nuclear power plants in Syria and such negotiations are not under way". (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
