ALGERIA: Algerian and French governments sign commercial contracts in the presence of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and French President Nicolas Sarkozy

Record ID: 573550

  • Title: ALGERIA: Algerian and French governments sign commercial contracts in the presence of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and French President Nicolas Sarkozy
  • Date: 5th December 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S MEMBERS VARIOUS OF ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA AND FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY AT SIGNING CEREMONY SIGNING CEREMONY IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF FIRST CONTRACT BEING SIGNED BY JEAN-LOUIS BORLOO, FRENCH MINISTER FOR SUSTAINABLE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND NOREDDINE MEDELCI, ALGERIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ABOUT THE AGREEMENT PARTNERSHIP OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROTOCOL VARIOUS OF SECOND CONTRACT BEING SIGNED BY JEAN-LOUIS BORLOO, FRENCH MINISTER FOR SUSTAINABLE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AND CHAKIB KHELIL, ALGERIAN MINISTER OF ENERGY ABOUT CIVIL NUCLEAR POWER ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA OFFERING PENS USED IN THE SIGNING TO THE WOMEN OF ALGERIAN AND FRENCH GOVERNMENT
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Algeria
  • Country: Algeria
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ANHNIQBGUVJ6GDJK4G7RMKEZ
  • Story Text: Algeria and France on Tuesday (December 4) signed a cooperation accord on civil nuclear energy during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Algiers, officials said.
    Sarkozy travelled to the North African country seeking to expand trade relations with the former French colony.
    Sarkozy and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stood and applauded as the contracts were signed by French and Algerian ministers on Tuesday (December 4).
    The nuclear deal must be endorsed by the European Union in Brussels, which has to verify it conforms with the Euratom treaty which seeks to protect the population from harmful radioactivity effects.
    OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) member Algeria is looking at generating nuclear energy and could start building a power plant within the next 10 years, its energy minister Chakib Khelil said last month.
    Any construction of a power plant would be years away because Algeria does not have a law governing nuclear energy, needs to train people and must select a location away from populated and earthquake-prone areas, he said.
    A number of countries, including major oil exporters, are showing interest in nuclear energy, which has become more competitive as oil prices have climbed to record levels.
    Advocates of nuclear power say that its generation does not produce carbon emissions, blamed for warming the planet.
    Opponents are concerned about safety and disposal of nuclear waste that remains toxic for thousands of years.
    In July, after agreeing to nuclear cooperation with Libya, Sarkozy said the West should trust Arab states to develop such technology for peaceful purposes or risk a war of civilisations.
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