Who would have believed this 20 years ago

Libya may ask for US help on nuclear power - Yahoo! News

TRIPOLI (AFP) - Libya may approach the United States for talks on constructing the country's first nuclear power plant, a senior official indicated on Monday.
The government "has given the green light to enter into negotiations on this question and to discuss with the United States with the aim of reaching an agreement on developing and cooperating on the peaceful use of nuclear power," a senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
In Washington, there was no confirmation of any proposed deal.
"I'm certainly aware of no plans for the United States to participate in nuclear programmes with Libya," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said.
Earlier, the official JANA news agency reported that the Libyan parliament or General People's Committee (GPC) had given its approval for the foreign ministry to sign such a deal.
"The GPC authorised on Sunday the GPC for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation to sign the agreement related (to) the Libyan-American cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy offered by the United States," the agency said in an English-language dispatch.
"The agreement aims at establishing a nuclear station in Libya to produce electricity, desalting water, and developing the radiochemistry performance at energy researches centre."
The draft agreement approved by MPs also provides for Libyan students to receive training in nuclear technology in the United States and for the establishment in Libya of a regional centre for nuclear medicine, JANA said.
Libya was long accused by Western governments of seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
But in late 2003 Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi renounced all attempts to develop a non-conventional arsenal, clearing the way for the restoration of diplomatic relations with the United States in May last year.
Any proposed agreement between the United States and its longtime enemy Libya would come at a time when Washington is intensifying its campaign against the nuclear programme of its arch-foe
Iran' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Iran.
Iran's programme, which the Islamic republic insists is entirely peaceful, has prompted a number of Arab states to announce plans to work on civil nuclear energy, including pro-Western Egypt and the six oil-rich Gulf states.
Earlier this month, Kadhafi complained that Libya had not been adequately compensated for abandoning nuclear weapons.
"Libya has not been properly compensated, so other countries, like Iran and
North Korea' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> North Korea, will not follow his lead," the Libyan leader said in an interview with the BBC.
"Libya is disappointed because the promises given by America and Britain were not fulfilled," he said.
Kadhafi was for decades an international pariah because of his opposition to the West and his alleged backing for terrorism, before the pledge to give up attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction.
That led to a normalisation of ties with Britain and France as well as the United States. After 20 years of isolation, foreign companies are now in fierce competition to clinch oil deals in Libya.
But Kadhafi told the BBC in Sebha, where on March 2 he celebrated the 30th anniversary of Libya's Jamahiriyah, or State of the Masses political system, there had been a lack of British,
European Union' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> European Union or US investment since.
Kadhafi said he thought it was still possible for Libya to work with the West for mutual benefit, but the lack of foreign cash did not mean his country would slip back into its old ways.
"Libya will never go back. I believe that the era of hostility and confrontation is behind us," he was quoted as saying.