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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Libya
Index
In 1975 Libya had ratified the United Nations (UN) Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty signed by the Idris regime in 1969. In 1980 an
agreement was reached with the International Atomic Energy Agency
placing all of Libya's nuclear installations under international
inspection. Despite these steps, in the mid- and late 1970s,
Qadhafi repeatedly proclaimed his country's determination to
acquire nuclear weapons, primarily because he was convinced that
his archenemy, Israel, had achieved such a military capability.
Qadhafi sought help in obtaining nuclear technology from a
number of countries, including the People's Republic of China.
Among these efforts, the cooperation with Pakistan launched in 1977
seemed for a time to be producing material results. Libya appeared
to be providing financial assistance and, later, deliveries of
uranium "yellow cake" originating in Niger in the hope of
eventually being compensated by weapons from Pakistan. However, in
an interview with an Indian newspaper in March 1986, Qadhafi
declared that Libya would never help Pakistan acquire an atomic
bomb. He said: "We consider nuclear weapons production a great
mistake against humanity."
A 10-megawatt nuclear research reactor supplied by the Soviet
Union in 1979 was installed at a research center at Tajura near
Tripoli staffed by 750 Libyan specialists and technicians. Many
students were sent abroad; a group of 200 was studying in the
United States until early 1983 when the United States proscribed
training Libyans in nuclear science. Libya planned to buy a power
station from the Soviet Union, but, dissatisfied with the
technology involved, negotiated with the Belgian firm of
Belgonucleaire to take over the engineering contract and supply
much of the needed equipment. After the United States objected,
fearing use of the equipment in weapons development, Belgium
decided in 1984 to refuse the US$1 billion contract. Shortly
thereafter, Moscow's commitment to construct an 880-megawatt power
station to be located in the Surt region was reaffirmed. It was to
cost over US$4 billion, with repayment to stretch over 15 to 18
years.
Libya had a theoretical capability of delivering nuclear
weapons in the form of Scud and FROG missiles and missiles
delivered by medium-range Tu-22 bombers. Suspicions that Libya was
seeking to acquire a medium-range missile capability were aroused
in 1980 when it was revealed that the West German firm, Orbital
Transport-und-Raketen Aktiengesellschaft (OTRAG), had built a
rocket-testing base in the Libyan desert. OTRAG, which had earlier
been forced to give up a testing site in Zaire, claimed that it was
working on a nonmilitary rocket to enable Third World countries to
launch satellites cheaply.
Data as of 1987
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