MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Nuclear cooperation: Brazil denies Venezuelan approach

Brazil so far has not received any proposal from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez regarding nuclear cooperation between the two nations, but it will study any such proposal if and when it receives one.

"We have no record of any requests for cooperation in that area. We are already developing links with Venezuela in other fields and we will look over that one, if they send (it) to us" said Monday Brazilian Science and Technology Minister Eduardo Campos in an interview with daily O Globo.

Last Sunday President Chavez in his weekly radio and television show announced Venezuela was looking into developing nuclear energy and could work with other countries, "including Brazil", on such projects.

President Chavez said developing nuclear energy was not to make bombs but rather to diversify Venezuela's energy sources and carry out projects in the medical area.

"We can perfectly advance research together with Brazil, Argentina and other countries from Latin America, and we can ask support from countries such as Iran and in Europe ..., but not to make bombs and launch them on cities, like the Americans did" he said, in direct reference to the U.S. atomic bombs dropped in Japan, 60 years ago that helped bring the end of World War II.

Brazilian minister Campos however refused to answer whether President Lula da Silva's administration would be willing to work with Venezuela on nuclear matters, but recalled that Brazil already has such agreements with Argentina, France and USA.

However other unidentified official sources consulted by O'Globo, said that it would be difficult for Brazil to accept participation in an agreement involving nuclear cooperation with Iran. According to those sources, Brazil prefers to abstain from associating on nuclear matters with a country whose activities in that area "are raising international suspicions and doubts".