Syrian Ambassador: Israel's Nuclear Installations Could Be Targeted
"We are not mercenaries, we will not be drawn into this war."
- Syria's new U.N. ambassador, Dr. Jafar Ja'afari, in an interview in New York.
After being booted by the Lebanese, Washington, and the U.N. Security Council last year, Syria's ambassador made it perfectly clear that Damascus has no intention of returning to Beirut.
"We cannot go in, then go out and come in like mercenaries, it will not happen. But, we wish the Lebanese well," added Ja'afari.
Syria is still seething over its alleged involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Harriri, who died in an attack on his motorcade in Beirut in December 2004.
Damascus insists it had no part in the attack on the Lebanese official, despite accusations made by several investigators from the U.N. security council to the contrary.
The Council followed the investigation by renewing a previous demand for Syria to vacate Lebanon (resolution 1559).
The Harriri assassination prompted an end to a Syrian occupation of their embattled neighbor, which lasted almost 20 years.
Syria's delegate explained that the root of the current crisis stems from the fact the new government in Lebanon has no real army to speak of.
"They have no army. It is small, it has little control and everyone knows this."
While the diplomat made no excuses for the Hezbollah attacks on Israeli soldiers, he wondered whether it warranted such a strong response by Jerusalem.
He also insisted that Israel's "nuclear centers" could eventually be targeted by Hezbollah.
"Nobody wants to talk about [Hezbollah] attacks on those nuclear centers do they? They could have radiation fallout all over the region."
It is unclear what nuclear facilities the Syrian was referring to.
Israel's main nuclear installation is outside the city of Dimona in the Negev desert. The facility, several hundred miles south of the Lebanese border, is well defended from potential attacks.
The Syrian insisted that his government knows of "seven such nuclear centers all over the country." He refused to provide any additional details.
The ambassador also did not hesitate to remind reporters that when Damascus was in Lebanon, Hezbollah attacks on Israeli settlements were few in number, thanks to the Syrian army.
The diplomat also pointed out that Hezbollah could not operate with such impunity within his country, because the Syrian military "would never permit it."
Ja'afari insisted that Washington was well aware of the impotence of the current Lebanese government, and as such, bears some of the responsibility for the current escalation of tensions.
"Why do they give Israel such permission [to use military force]? The U.S. is the only superpower. They should use their power to decrease, not increase such tensions."
Ja'afari reluctantly admitted there is little organizations such as the U.N. Security Council can do and that the current crisis will likely play itself out according to timetables coordinated between Jerusalem and Washington.
"What can the U.N. do? The United States will use its veto? Its foolish but they will use it."
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15-07-2006, 11:42
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