Belgians split over atoms

Press, 24 October 1984, Page 17

Belgians split over atoms

Strong opposition from the United States to a proposed deal between Belgium and Libya over the building of a nuclear power station is forcing the Belgian Government to back down over the project, writes Liz Barrier from Brussels. The American diplomatic protests and splits within the Belgian Government itself over the project are unlikely to lead to the go-ahead sought by the company, Belgonucleaire, which wants to tie up the Libyan contract by the end of this month. The contract, worth more than $lOOO million to Belgium, involves Belgian engineers acting in a consulting role over the installation of two or three Russian-built nuclear plants in Libya. Even though the project is for civilian use, the Reagan Administration it and fears the technology would not be limited to peaceful uses. In spite of Libya having signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, United States sources point out that the Libyans have been known to break international treaties before and make no secret of wanting to acquire an atom bomb. The pro-Israeli lobby in the Belgian Government, whose two leading lights are the Justice Minister, Jean Gol, and the Minister for Brussels, Paul Hatry, is fiercely opposed to the deal. Lined up on its

side is the Flemish Socialist opposition.

A spokesman for Belgonucleaire in Brussels says Libya has been waiting months for the agreement to be tied up, and that if the Belgian Government does not give the go-ahead, France or West Germany would be ready to take the job. Reports in the Belgian press also cite the United Kingdom as being a possible candidate for the contract. Belgonucleaire stress that from a technical point of view there is no danger of Libya making nuclear weapons from the technology. According to the company, Libya is looking for alternative energy sources against the time when the oil runs out. The affair follows on the United States concern over Belgian sales of sensitive technology to the Soviet Union last summer. The Namur-based firm Regard wanted to sell a computer-controlled milling machine. The Foreign Minister, Leo Tindemans, warned that. the machine would be used for military purposes, namely the construction of SS-20 and 21 missilelaunchers. Finally, the United States provided cash for the Belgian army to buy the machine. United States anger flared again recently as the Belgian Government gave approval to Regard to export five more machine-tools to Russia. Copyright — London Observer Service.