France-Libya Accord Plans Further Nuclear Cooperation

CIVIL NUCLEAR

Example of French nuclear power technology at Cattenom.

French FM Says Libya Nuclear Deal Just A Hypothesis
Paris (AFP) Aug 01 - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday that a French proposal to build a nuclear reactor in Libya, which has drawn official protests from Germany, was still only at the planning stage. "There have been complaints, in particular because we raised the hypothesis, which is far from being confirmed" of supplying a nuclear reactor to Libya, Kouchner told a parliamentary foreign affairs committee. He said the document signed during President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Libya last week was a simple "memorandum of understanding, a possible framework" for a "possible nuclear reactor." "Remember that this is for desalinating sea water, not for making war, and that it would be completely controlled" by the UN atomic watchdog the IAEA, "if it goes ahead, and it is not certain that it will." There has been no contact between the company that could do this and Libya, so it is just a prospect," Kouchner said. A memorandum on building the reactor was signed as Sarkozy held talks with Libyan leader Kadhafi, a day after Tripoli freed six foreign medics. France played a key role, along with EU officials, in securing their release. German officials have blasted the deal as "reckless" and a potential blow to nuclear non-proliferation efforts as well as the European Union's aim to pursue better coordinated foreign policy. Kouchner said he had discussed the situation Monday with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Some decisions do not make everyone happy," he added. The French-Libyan deal has also been attacked by the left-wing and green opposition in France as a potential proliferation risk. But an official with France's Atomic Energy Commission insisted that international safeguards imposed after Libya scrapped its military nuclear programme in 2003 would prevent any proliferation.

by Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) Aug 01, 2007
A French accord on providing Libya with a nuclear reactor for water desalination paves the way for broader cooperation on atomic energy, according to details of the deal released on Tuesday. The text of the Franco-Libyan agreement was released to the press as Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner went before a parliamentary committee to answer questions on the deal, which has drawn official protests from Germany.

Entitled "Memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of peaceful applications of nuclear energy," the document signed during President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Libya last week outlines three goals:

"To deepen and develop cooperation between both countries on the peaceful uses of atomic energy in the mutual interest of both parties."

"To encourage the institutions and industrial companies of both countries to undertake joint projects."

"To authorise the institutions and industrial companies of both countries to work together with a view to carrying out nuclear energy production and water desalination, as well as other development projects linked to the peaceful use of atomic energy."

France and Libya express their "will to increase and encourage their cooperation in the field of nuclear plants for the production of energy and water desalination," the text says.

Kouchner earlier told the committee the French proposal was still at the planning stage, saying the deal struck in Tripoli was a simple "memorandum of understanding, a possible framework" for a "possible nuclear reactor".

"There have been complaints, in particular because we raised the hypothesis, which is far from being confirmed," of supplying a nuclear reactor to Libya, he said.

"Remember that this is for desalinating sea water, not for making war, and that it would be completely controlled" by the UN's atomic watchdog, "if it goes ahead, and it is not certain that it will."

"There has been no contact between the company that could do this and Libya, so it is just a prospect," Kouchner said.

The Franco-Libyan accord was signed a day after Tripoli freed six foreign medics. France played a key role, along with EU officials, in securing their release.

German officials have blasted the deal as "reckless" and a potential blow to nuclear non-proliferation efforts as well as the European Union's aim to pursue better coordinated foreign policy.

It has also been attacked by the left-wing and green opposition in France as a potential proliferation risk.

But an official with France's Atomic Energy Commission insisted that international safeguards imposed after Libya scrapped its military nuclear programme in 2003 would prevent any proliferation.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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CIVIL NUCLEAR

US Congress To Scrutinize Nuclear Pact With India

Washington DC (AFP) Aug 04, 2007
The US Congress has to determine whether an operational agreement of a landmark US-India nuclear deal is legal, the head of an influential House of Representatives panel said Friday. The statement by Tom Lantos, the Democratic chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs, came as two US arms experts warned that the civilian nuclear agreement was filled with "loopholes" that could be exploited by India to bolster its nuclear weapons program. The agreement has been approved by the two governments after exhaustive discussions spanning two years, but US law requires mandatory Congress approval of the pact, which was transmitted to lawmakers and made public Friday.

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