France and Libya have entered into a secret agreement on defense
cooperation covering the sale of military hardware and provision of
training for Libyan Special Forces, French weekly satirical
newspaper Le Canard Enchaine reported Wednesday.
According to the newspaper, the "agreement that calls for
cooperation in the domain of defense and partnership in the defense
industry" was signed by French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner
and his Libyan counterpart Abderrahmane Chalgam in Tripoli on July
25, 2007, one day after the release of five Bulgarian nurses and a
doctor.
The agreement covers 12 areas of cooperation such as the
"exchange of views and information," "exchange visits between
experts from the two countries," "sale of various military hardware
and defense systems to Libya" as well as the "protection and
promotion of investments in the domain of defense," the new paper
reports.
In addition, the agreement explores "the possibility for
conducting joint military maneuvers" and "provision of training for
specialized military units, Special Forces and border guard units
from Libya."
The agreement also stipulates that the modalities for its
"implementation" will be "worked out" within the "next 12
months.
In early August 2007, Libya announced that it had reached an
armament agreement with a leading European arms manufacturer EADS
for the purchase of Milan anti-tank missiles worth €168 million
(US$226.8 million) and Tetra radio communication system for a
further €128 million (US$174.8 million). The announcement fueled
debate on what had been promised to Libya in order to secure the
freedom of the Bulgarian nurses.
The two countries also signed an agreement for the supply of a
nuclear reactor to be used in the purification of sea water during
the July 25 visit to Libya by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)
