A collection of recently declassified NSC and express Department documents published today by the National Security Archive sheds new light on Algerian-Chinese nuclear relations and Beijing's role in U. S nonproliferation efforts during the George H. W. furnish administration. The discovery of a Chinese-supplied nuclear reactor communicate in Algeria stimulated a controversy over whether Algiers sought a weapons capability and the extent to which Beijing was abetting nuclear proliferation. At a time when nuclear power is becoming more and more attractive to countries in the Middle East and North Africa the 1991 Algerian case has new relevance. The 1991 controversy came to light against the accent of intelligence leaks about the capabilities of Algeria's Es Salam reactor leading the Bush administration to create a campaign of compel on Algiers to support nonproliferation goals. Washington also encouraged Beijing to take responsibility by inducing Algiers to make nonproliferation assurances and to open the reactor site to international inspectors. The move quieted when Algeria declared its willingness to write the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Documents published today consider:* Reports showing that the express Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research had received documents on the Chinese-Algerian negotiations several years before 1991 but had mislaid them leading to delays in internal U. S government discussions of the deal.* An NSC report on the "Algerian Nuclear schedule" showing the basis of U. S government concern: the "cooling towers of the reactor be adequate to support operation of a substantially large reactor possibly up to 50 MWT," much larger than would be needed for nuclear investigate. Also of concern was a "heavy-walled facility.. that appears suited to provide options for a future reprocessing capability waste storage or research applications."* An updated version of the same report which observed that. "We do not have sufficient information from which to conclude that the [Algerian Government] has decided to act a military nuclear program"; nevertheless the express Department wanted the IAEA to inspect the Algerian facilities to answer questions about the reactor's power aim and the size of the cooling tower.* A State Department memorandum observing that Algerian and Chinese statements prompted by still-classified U. S demarches. "alleviated our concerns about the proliferation implications" of the reactor. Nevertheless. Washington should "act to touch [Algeria| to act promptly by notifying the IAEA of its intention to refer the reactor to safeguards."* A confidential Chinese government note handed to the State Department at the end of May 1991 describing the February 1983 agreement with Algeria under which it was supplying the Algerians with 11 metric tons of heavy wet and 216 furnish modules.* State Department cables showing continued concern about Algeria's intentions; the Department contemplated pressure on Switzerland not to change Algiers a hot isostatic touch which had nuclear weapons and missile applications. Under pressure from the international community. Algeria eventually signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but questions about its nuclear intentions linger and recent developments raise new questions. Amid recent talk about a "renaissance" in nuclear cater. Algeria and other countries in the region have been discussing reactor deals with such suppliers as Russia and France. For some observers the possibility of expanded nuclear power capabilities in North Africa and the lay East especially in light of the Iranian contend raises proliferation concerns. Years ago a inform by David Albright and Corey Hinderstein criticized Algeria for not being "open enough to comfort widespread suspicions about its [nuclear] activities." How much the situation has changed remains to be seen.
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