U.S. has faith in Brazil despite nuclear dispute

WASHINGTON - - A senior U.S. official said recently Washington had confidence in Brazil's approach to nuclear security despite its refusal to allow surprise inspections.

Roger Noriega, assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, said a dispute over the issue should be settled multilaterally through the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.

"I want to make clear that we do not want to make this a bilateral issue because, quite frankly, the United States has confidence that Brazil is a responsible actor," Noriega said.

"We think this is a sensitive, technical diplomatic issue (but) I want to be very clear: we have confidence in Brazil," Noriega told journalists.

Brazil is resisting U.S pressure to sign a protocol that would allow surprise and intrusive inspections of its nuclear facilities. The country is preparing to start enriching uranium for nuclear power this year, making it one of a small group of countries able to master a technology that has the potential to produce the raw material needed to make nuclear weapons.

The move drew attention after reports that Brazil had denied inspectors from the IAEA access to the plant. Washington wants Brazil to sign a protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which would allow for more intrusive inspections.

Brazil has said it does not want to put its proprietary research at risk.

The United States and other countries fear that Brazil, by resisting tougher inspections, could set a bad precedent for other recalcitrant nations like Iran.