Belgian security chief resigns over Iran export
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Wednesday, 1 February: 21.25 CET) – Belgian security service chief Koen Dassen has stepped down from his post over allegations that his department failed to disclose the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, news agencies reported.
A day after Dassen’s resignation on Monday, a committee charged with supervising Belgium’s security services issued a report on the issue to the senate.
According to news agency reports, a Belgian firm, Epsi, is accused of having sold Tehran an isostatic press, which can be used to in the process of creating nuclear weapons.
In its Tuesday report, the oversight committee also reportedly said that Belgium’s security services had misinformed Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx about the isostatic press and resisted efforts to investigate.
The transfer of the technology was illegal as it violated international regulations on the nuclear and military embargo on Iran.
”Having not correctly informed the competent authorities or its superior ministry, the state security service assuredly failed in its mission to provide information to the authorities and proved itself inefficient,” the report said.
Epsi insisted that the type of technology it exported to Iran in November 2004 could not be used in nuclear weapons production, news agencies reported.
A day after Dassen’s resignation on Monday, a committee charged with supervising Belgium’s security services issued a report on the issue to the senate.
According to news agency reports, a Belgian firm, Epsi, is accused of having sold Tehran an isostatic press, which can be used to in the process of creating nuclear weapons.
In its Tuesday report, the oversight committee also reportedly said that Belgium’s security services had misinformed Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx about the isostatic press and resisted efforts to investigate.
The transfer of the technology was illegal as it violated international regulations on the nuclear and military embargo on Iran.
”Having not correctly informed the competent authorities or its superior ministry, the state security service assuredly failed in its mission to provide information to the authorities and proved itself inefficient,” the report said.
Epsi insisted that the type of technology it exported to Iran in November 2004 could not be used in nuclear weapons production, news agencies reported.
posted by Marko at 2/01/2006 06:03:00 PM
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