In 2003, Libya agreed to dismantle its nuclear weapons and medium-range
ballistic missile programs. The United States was said to have been
surprised by the progress of Libya's nuclear weapons program, assisted by
the nuclear smuggling network of Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Kahn.
Libya's parliament has allowed the Foreign Ministry to sign an agreement
for a U.S.-supplied nuclear reactor, a Libyan agency reported, according to Middle East Newsline. Under the accord, Washington would
supply a nuclear facility and train Libyans to operate the reactor.
"The agreement aims at establishing a nuclear station in Libya to
produce electricity, desalting water, and developing the radiochemistry
performance at researches center," the official Libyan news agency, Jana,
said.
The United States has not confirmed the Libyan report. The State
Department has reported talks with Libya on everything from security to
nuclear energy cooperation.
"I'm certainly aware of no plans for the United States to participate in
nuclear programs with Libya," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey
said.
On March 12, Jana said the draft accord stipulated the U.S.
establishment of a nuclear medicine center in Libya. Jana said the facility
would serve the entire North African region.
"The General People's Committee [Libyan parliament] authorized the GPC
for Liaison and International Cooperation to sign the agreement related to
Libyan-American cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy," Jana
said.
The Jana report came nine days after Libyan ruler Moammar Khaddafy said
the West failed to compensate Libya for the elimination of its nuclear
program. Khaddafy warned that other countries with nuclear ambitions could
refuse U.S. offers to end their programs.