He sells nuclear technology

Johan Wallqvist
Swedish original: "Han säljer teknik för kärnvapen"
(Johan Wallqvist, Expressen, 2004/02/19)

Expressen can reveal today that a Swedish company has sold advanced nuclear equipment to Syria.
Custom authorities in Gothenburg has started a preliminary investigation of the case.
"This has improved Syria's capacity to extract nuclear fuel from uranium and in the worst case - build nuclear weapons, says a Swedish expert on nuclear technology.

It's the Gothenburg based company MEAB Metallextraktion AB which has sold the equipment to Syria.
"The aim is to purify phosphoric acid from uranium for use in the food industry, says Hans Reinhardt, chairman of the board at MEAB.
"The equipment has been manufactured by subcontractors. We delivered everything to Syria and build the plant. The price was 40 million Swedish Kronor [5,7 million U.S. Dollars].

Extract uranium
But the equipment can also be used to extract uranium for civilian use as nuclear fuel - or for nuclear weapons.
"The company has no permission to export double use technology. The preliminary investigation will show if the company is involved in smuggling or not, says the custom officer Bertil Weingarten.

"We simply say SEAC"
Expressens examination reveals that it is Syria's atomic energy commission SEAC which has bought the equipment by MEAB.
Hans Reinhardt tries to conceal this during the interview.
What does SEAC stand for?
"S stands for Syrian..."
And A?
"Well, what can it be... eh, no, I don't know."
Really?
"Hehe, no, we simply say SEAC."
Has the plant anything to do with nuclear fuel or nuclear weapons?
"Not at all," says Hans Reinhardt, doctor in nuclear chemistry and specialist in uranium extraction.
But later on he admits:
"The technology and equipment we have sold to Syria is quite clearly applicable also for the recycling of nuclear fuel and to make uranium."
The United States and other western countries maintain that Suria is a "rogue state", which is supporting terrorists and furtively is seeking weapons of mass destruction. In the city of Homs MEAB has connected its plant to a fertilizer factory which is owned by Syria's atomic energy commission - responsible for the country's nuclear program.

Designated as the central
According to American reports, Homs is the "central for Syria's manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction".
The International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, asserts that the fertilizer factory in Homs is a part of Syria's nuclear program.

[Posted 2004/02/28]

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