Bolivia denies Israel report it supplied Iran with uranium

[IndianaGreen]

Source: Haaretz

Last update - 21:20 26/05/2009

Bolivia denies Israel report it supplied Iran with uranium

By The Associated Press

Bolivia on Tuesday denied supplying Iran with uranium for its nuclear program, saying it has never produced the metallic element, a key ingredient for nuclear energy and weapons.

Mining Minister Luis Alberto Echazu dismissed allegations made in a secret Israeli government report, saying "there isn't even a geological study (of uranium deposits), much less could there be export of uranium to another country."

The secret Foreign Ministry document, obtained by The Associated Press on Monday, says there are reports that Venezuela supplies Iran with uranium for its nuclear program and that Bolivia also supplies uranium to Iran. The reports it refers to are previous Israeli intelligence conclusions.

Bolivia's Foreign Ministry plans to formally respond to the accusation, Echazu said.

Venezuela's government has yet to comment on the report.

"Bolivia has some uranium deposits but they aren't being exploited," mining director Freddy Beltran said in comments published by the Bolivian daily La Razon on Tuesday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales have built close ties with Iran and opposed Israeli and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1088362.html

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Here is yesterday's related LBN thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3892328

Remember that Venezuela and Bolivia have embarked on a major land reform program that threatens the landed gentry with loss of privileges.

I will also point out that it is legal to sell uranium to signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran is a signatory, Israel, Indian, and France are not.

[Taverner]

1. Israel is making up shit again

Once again, they look to the US for guidance, and once again they try a Rovian strategy

And once again, they are wrong

[Mike 03]

2. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought it was common knowledge that Iran had business

interests re: exchange of uranium with a number of nations, and that it was not illegal or otherwise particularly evidence of wrongdoing or malfeasance.

Not sure why this is scandalous or breaking news???

:shrug:

[dipsydoodle]

3. Venezuela's government has yet to

burst out laughing with the rest of us about the report. Don't suppose the Israeli spokesman's name was Wayne Kerr.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Israel is not known for leaking any kind of secret documents

I am not at all sure that the AP has all of its ducks in a row. IOW, the so-called secret document is a forgery promoted by neocon elements in the US.

[roberto]

5. Israel tries to set a state of terrorism against iran whatever the price.

This is the reason why their first minister (Netanyahu) is not traveling in coming weeks. They will try to use the north Korean missile as a fact to test, as the North Koreans are, the power of UNO and USA. Just have a look...

[IndianaGreen]

6. This story is so bogus

I don't trust the AP for one minute either.

[Wednesdays]

7. K&R

:kick:

[bananas]

8. France signed the NPT in 92

maybe you're thinking of Pakistan?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Non-Proliferation_Treaty