France/Algeria

Nuclear pact to be signed

Article published on the 2008-06-01 Latest update 2008-06-01 13:52 TU

Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil
(Photo: AFP)

Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil announced Saturday that his country is to sign an unprecedented nuclear energy cooperation pact with France. His French counterpart Jean-Louis Borloo said that the agreement will mean an exchange of technology, along with French assistance for nuclear energy research and the exploitation of Algeria's uranium reserves.

Borloo gave no more details of the agreement, saying that more will be revealed when French Prime Minister François Fillon visits Algeria on 20-21 June.

The two countries signed a first agreement when President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Algiers in December.

At the time, Sarkozy declared that the deal was proof that the former colonial ruler "now trusts Algeria".

French diplomats point out that this is the first time that France has signed such an agreement with an Arab country.

Algeria, which has signed nuclear deals with the United States and Russia, has had two experimental nuclear reactors since 1995. They are monitored by the International Atomic Energy Authority.