The UN nuclear watchdog's member states reached a compromise deal Wednesday to help Syria conduct a feasibility study on the possible construction of a nuclear reactor, despite stiff opposition from the west, diplomats said. After three days of intensive contacts, the International Atomic Energy Agency's Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee (TACC) finally reached consensus on Wednesday, the third and final day of the committee's annual meeting here, diplomats said.
"We're pleased to reach consensus agreement on TC (technical cooperation) programme," a western diplomat said, according to AFP. "We and other countries who have strong reservations about the one project are nonetheless strong supporter of the overall programme," the diplomat said.
"We've made our point: the one Syrian project is now under the spotlight and will remain under the spotlight."
The request from Syria for IAEA help in studying the technical and economic feasibility of a nuclear power plant, and for help selecting possible sites, triggered fierce controversy. The project, which is to run from 2009 to 2011, is estimated to cost 350,000 dollars.
According to the compromise, the IAEA's secretariat had "committed to keep the project under close scrutiny," the western diplomat said. "We and the other board members have reserved our right to relook at this project in light of developments in the IAEA's ongoing safeguards investigation," the diplomat said.
