Syrian official says his country wants to develop nuclear energy, echoing Israeli statement

Syria wants to develop nuclear energy

PARIS — A senior Syrian official says his country would like to pursue nuclear power to meet growing energy needs.

Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad says “the peaceful application of nuclear energy should not be monopolized by the few that own this technology but should be available to all.”

He says Syria is looking at “alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy” to meet growing demand for energy in his country, noting its growing population.

Mekdad spoke Tuesday at a nuclear conference in Paris.

Minutes earlier, rival Israel’s infrastructure minister announced his country wants to build nuclear power plants, a move expected to draw new attention to its secretive nuclear activities.