Brasília - Minister of Foreign Relações, Celso Amorim, declared that Brazil has nothing to hide from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with regard to its nuclear installations located in Resende, state of Rio de Janeiro. However, Amorim added that the country intends to delay the signature of an additional protocol with the IAEA, which would permit more extensive inspections, because Brazil does not wish to reveal its technological advances at this moment.

"We are producing enriched uranium for pacific purposes. We are just keeping all our options open regarding energy sources," declared the minister during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

The IAEA is scheduled to make an inspection tour of the Resende plant in the next few days.

Colin Powell declared that the US is not worried about the Brazilian nuclear program. "I do not see the Brazilian program as the same type of program that Iran and North Korea are involved in. North Korea already has nuclear weapons," he said.

Agência Brasil
Reporter:Ana Paula Marra
Translator: Allen Bennett
10/6/2004