France-Libya nuclear deal signed


Diplomacy done with thoughtful commerce.


France announced plans to sell nuclear reactors to Libya as well as 10 billion euros of trade deals, as President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomed Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi for a five-day visit…

Later at the Elysee Palace, the two countries announced the nuclear cooperation accord and some 3.2 billion euros (4.7 billion dollars) of contracts for European planemaker Airbus — for 21 aircraft purchased by Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways.

Paris and Tripoli agreed to work together to develop the “peaceful use of nuclear energy”, including “the supply of one or more nuclear reactors for the desalinisation of sea water” and uranium exploration and exploitation…

It is the second nuclear cooperation deal between France and an Arab country, following an accord struck by Sarkozy in Algiers last week. A similar agreement is in the pipeline with Morocco…

Libya also signed a memorandum promising to negotiate exclusively with France for all future military purchases, though details were not released.

Let’s see: we have bi-lateral diplomacy between an Arab state and a Western nation headed by a conservative. This results in business deals in both directions - including the peaceful use of nuclear power.

Sounds logical to me. Now, this is the kind of diplomatic leadership we can… Oh, that’s right. The U.S. wasn’t involved.

Posted: Tue - December 11, 2007 at 10:00 AM