February 1987
In a statement on behalf of the Egyptian government, the head of the Egyptian delegation at the Geneva Disarmament Conference, Saad Alfarargi, addresses several weapons of mass destruction related issues and notes in the statement that "the A.R.E. [Arab Republic of Egypt] favours an agreement on a ban on chemical weapons."
--"Egypt Condemns Nuclear Tests," The Russian Information Agency, ITAR-TASS, 19 February 1987.

September 1987
The Jaffee Centre for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University in Israel releases a 462-page study by former Israeli military intelligence chief Aharon Yariv, stating that Arab states either "either possess, or can acquire, chemical weaponry."
--"Israel Trails in Chemical Armaments Report Says," Associated Press, 8 September 1987.

November 1987
As the prospect of a worldwide agreement addressing a ban on chemical weapons improves, Kenneth L. Adelman, Director of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, notes that the number of chemical weapons states has increased to "15 to 20 chemical weapon states." The article, not Adelman, cites that Egypt "has not said if it has chemical weapons."
--Michael R. Gordon with Paul Lewis, "The Move to Ban Chemical Weapons: Big Strides and Many More Hurdles," New York Times, 16 November 1987; Michael R. Gordon, "US Thinks Libya May Plan to Make Chemical Weapons," New York Times, 24 December 1987.

November 1987
A meeting in Egypt between Presidents Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Nicolae Ceausescu of Romania leads to a joint Egyptian-Romanian statement advocating international efforts towards the elimination of chemical weapons.
"Egypt – Ceausescu, Mubarak Favour End to Arms Race," The Russian Information Agency, 24 November 1987.

December 1987
US intelligence indicates that Libya might be building a chemical weapons plant. Egypt, a suspected possessor of chemical weapons, has tense relations with Libya, raising the possibility that a skirmish might escalate to include the use of chemical weapons.
--Michael R. Gordon, "US Thinks Libya May Plan to Make Chemical Weapons," New York Times, 24 December 1987.

January 1989
The Reagan administration is expected to propose that the United Nations be given broad powers allowing the organization to investigate suspected chemical weapon use anywhere in the world. The announcement comes as the United States seemed particularly concerned with chemical weapons production among Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt. According to a New York Times article, "there have been reports that Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Libya are employing chemical weapons in warfare."
--"U.S. to Propose Broad Powers for U.N. on Chemical Arms," United Press International, 3 January 1989.

January 1989
US administration officials continue to suspect Egypt possesses chemical weapons.
--Stephen Engelberg, "Chemical Arms: Third World Trend," New York Times, 7 January 1989; Nissim Rejwan, "Syria's Iron Grip on 'Popular Democracy'," Jerusalem Post, 25 June 1992.

January 1989
While referring to disarmament of chemical weapons, Egyptian Foreign Minister Esmat Abdel-Meguid states in an interview during the Paris Conference that, "we cannot say only chemical weapons. We also have to talk about other mass destruction weapons. We would like this position to be spelled out so that while we are condemning chemical weapons, we don't neglect nuclear weapons." However, he adds that Egypt will not insist on a link among different WMD in a final chemical weapons nonproliferation agreement. According to Abdel-Meguid, the Parisian Conference indicates broad interest in addressing chemical weapons. He advocates a meeting of all concerned countries prior to an agreement's endorsement to create a mechanism for sanctions for noncompliance.
[Note: The Russian Information Agency refers to Abdel-Meguid as "Deputy Prime Minister."]
-- R. Jeffrey Smith and Edward Cody, "US Drive to Censure Libya Lags; Paris, Bonn Talks; Arabs Seek to Link Gas, Nuclear Arms," Washington Post, 7 January 1989; Edward Cody and R. Jeffrey Smith, "Moscow Announces Chemical Arms Cuts; Soviets Agree to Investigate Libyan Plant," Washington Post, 9 January 1989; Yuri Lopatin, Nikita Yermakov and Alexander Krivykh, "Conference on Chemical Weapons Continued," The Russian Information Agency ITAR-TASS, 9 January 1989.

January 1989
Suspicions regarding Egypt's chemical weapons program are reasserted. Elisa Harris, a chemical weapons specialist at the Brookings Institution and contributor to the London-based "Brassey's Defense Yearbook," claims that "every confirmed use of chemical weapons since the First World War" has been effective militarily and psychologically, including Egypt's use in Yemen between 1963 and 1967. Egypt has facilities capable of producing chemical weapons.
--Fred Kaplan, "Little Is Known, Much Is Feared about Who Has Chemical Weapons," Boston Globe, 8 January 1989; Nicholas Beeston, "Race for the 'Poor Man's A-Bomb'; Chemical Weapons," Times of London), 21 January 1989.

January 1989
Egypt continues to press for a nuclear-chemical parallel link at the 149-nation Paris Conference, at which Egypt is seen as championing the Arab unilateral disarmament argument. The only Arab countries to participate in the 40-nation Geneva talks, however, are limited to Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco, despite concerns regarding Syria and Iraq's CW programs.
--Edward Cody, "Talks Show Growing Arab Consensus That Chemical Arms Balance Nuclear," Washington Post, 13 January 1989.

January 1989
US intelligence sources state at least four Arab countries possess chemical weapons, including Egypt.
--Moffett, George, "Chemical Attack on Israel Could Spark Nuclear Reply," Toronto Star, 15 January 1989.

January 1989
When asked about chemical weapons, Israeli Chief of General Staff Dan Shomron states that he believes Egypt has the means to produce chemical weapons.
--Dan Petreadnu, Jon Immanual and Asher Wallfish, "Shomron, Barak Defend IDF Record in Areas," Jerusalem Post, 26 January 1989.

January 1989
In a discussion on trade restrictions, German Free Democrat leader Graf Lambsdorf calls for strictly supervised international conventions to stop the flow of chemical weapons systems. According to Tat-Aluf (res.) Aharon Levran, editor of the Jaffee Institute's Middle East Balance, it is too late to stop CW programs in countries like Egypt, which have already benefited from assistance from West German companies.
--Dan Petreanu, "The Business That Backfired," Jerusalem Post, 27 January 1989.

10 March 1989
US and Swiss officials state that the Swiss company Krebs A.G. delivered "parts" to Egypt to be installed in a plant "intended to make poison gas" at Abu Za'abal, 25 miles north of Cairo. A Swiss foreign ministry official says there is "reason to believe" Egypt has intentions to produce chemical weapons, which might include the nerve agent sarin. The Swiss government took action after Egypt refused to provide assurances that the plant would be used for civilian purposes, prompting a demand that Krebs sever its relationship with the project. The United States criticized the Swiss for acting too slowly.

Krebs also built a chemical plant for the El Nasr Pharmaceutical Company to make phosphorous trichloride, a chemical found in pesticides and the export of which is controlled. It is not clear if the plant is used for military purposes. Design plans for the facility were purchased by Krebs from the American industrial chemical company, Stauffer Chemicals Inc. Egypt declined to state what chemical(s) would be produced at the plant, though Egypt's current capabilities are thought to include mustard and nerve agents. Mohammed Wahby, Egypt's spokesman in Washington, denied plans to build a chemical weapons plant. "We are not involved in the manufacturing of chemical weapons," he said. The plant is part of a military industrial complex that is also expected to include a joint Egyptian-American plant for M-1 tank assembly.
--"Egypt Plans Poison-Gas Facility, Paper Says," Associated Press, 10 March 1989.; United Press International, 10 March 1989; Michael R. Gordon and Stephen Engelberg, "Poison Gas Fears Lead U.S. to Plan New Export Curbs," New York Times, 26 March 1989, p. 1; Michael R. Gordon and Stephen Engelberg, "Egypt Accused of Big Advance on Poison Gas," New York Times, 10 March 1989, p.1; "Egypt Can Build Poison Gas Plant, Paper Reports," Toronto Star, 10 March 1989; Peter Pringle, "Swiss Firm 'Aided Egypt in Gas Plant'," The Independent, 11 March 1989; Christian Fuerst, "Israel: Aware of the Benefits," Toronto Star, 25 March 1989; "Swiss Poison Gas Gear Reported Bought," Facts on File World News Digest,31 March 1989; Michael R. Gordon, "Swiss Halt Plans for Plant in Iran," New York Times, 9 May 1989.

10 March 1989
In a US State Department briefing that covered-in part-the Krebs allegation, spokesman Charles Redman states that the United States engages Egypt "frequently and closely" on issues concerning proliferation of WMD. Redman also notes that dual-use issues complicate issues like the Krebs allegation, as does Swiss law, which does not provide for controls on chemical production machinery (thought chemicals and precursors are covered). Redman believes the Egyptians advertised the facility as a pharmaceutical plant.
--Redman, Charles, State Department Briefing, Federal Information Systems Corporation, 10 March 1989.

11 March 1989
Brigadier Nagi el- Tohami, the Defense Ministry spokesman for Egypt, denies acquiring Swiss technology to improve its ability to produce chemical weapons, but Western diplomats state that Egypt possesses the ability and may have exported Soviet-technology to other Arab states. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak also denied that Egypt planned to build a poison gas plant. He stated, "we are not building any...plants...we are against all chemical weapons. We condemn all this." President Mubarak, who responded to questions while in Brussels, also claimed, "This is the first time I've heard of it." Krebs, meanwhile, halted the project at Abu Za'abal at the request of the Swiss government.
--Alan Cowell, "Egypt Denies Swiss Machinery Was Acquired to Make Poison Gas," New York Times, 11 March 1989; "Egypt Is Not Planning to Build Poison Gas Plant, Mubarak Says," St. Petersburg Times, 11 March 1989; "Egypt Said to Be Getting Ability to Produce Chemical Weapons," St. Louis Post--Dispatch, 11 March 1989; Christopher Walker, "Egypt Denies Claim That It Is Building Poison Gas Factory," Times of London, 11 March 1989.

13 March 1989
According to Israeli experts, chemical weapons are "standard issue" in the Egyptian Army, which has the potential to fit chemical warheads on surface-to-surface missiles and to aircraft bombs. Israelis claim that Abu Za'abal is not the only means Egypt has for producing chemical weapons. Egypt and Iraq have been working "for years" on producing and stockpiling chemical weapons. Egypt seems to have a great deal of public support regarding chemical weapons production in order not to "lag behind" other countries in the region. The Abu Za'abal plant is believed to be 80 percent complete.
--Menachem Shalev and Kenneth Kaplan, "Foreign Ministry Mum on Egyptian Chemical Weapons," Jerusalem Post, 13 March 1989.

26 March 1989
US officials discussing chemical weapons programs cite a 1985 deal in which Stauffer Chemicals, a US company, provided a design for a plant in Egypt that "makes a chemical that can be used to make both nerve gas and non-lethal civilian products." According to a New York Times report, "In 1985, Stauffer Chemicals sold the design for a chemical plant to make phosphorous trichloride to Krebs A.G., a Swiss company. The contract specified that the plant, modeled after a Stauffer plant in Pennsylvania, would be built by Krebs for El Nasr Pharmaceutical Company of Egypt."

The plant, which is complete, is used to synthesize phosphorous trichloride, which can innocuously be used in pesticide manufacture or as a sarin precursor. US officials are reportedly concerned that the chemicals produced could supply a second plant, the materials for which Krebs supplies. American officials also "for the first time identified many of the more 20 nations" that the US administration says have produced "poison gas" or are developing the ability to make it, including Egypt.
--Michael R. Gordon and Stephen Engelberg, "Poison Gas Fears Lead US to Plan New Export Curbs," New York Times, 26 March 1989; Peter Pringle, "US Plans Curb on Chemical Exports," The Independent, 27 March 1989; Michael R. Gordon and Stephen Engelberg, "Poison Gas Fears Lead U.S. To Plan New Export Curbs," New York Times, 27 March 1989, p. A1.

April 1989
The Bush administration is criticized by unnamed developing countries claiming that the United States is "selective in its outrage over chemical weapons, getting more upset about them in Libya and possibly Egypt than in Europe."
--"The World's Worst Communication Gap," Christian Science Monitor, 5 April 1989.

April 1989
During a visit to Washington, DC, Egyptian President Mubarak emphatically denied Egypt was involved in chemical weapons production, according to a senior Bush administration official.
--"Mubarak, Shamir Visit, US; Present Ideas to Bush," Facts on File World News Digest, 7 April 1989.

April 1989
Egypt appears to be building a missile production plant at Abu Za'abal at "Military Factory 90," where Egypt is also reported to be developing a chemical weapons plant. Egypt worked closely with Argentina and Iraq in the early 1980s on the Condor II missile, a two-stage rocket capable of flying a 700kg payload over 1,000km.
--"Condor II: An Issue to Test US-Egypt Ties," MidEast Markets, 17 April 1989; Carol Berger, "Blast Reveals Joint Military Projects Continue after Gulf War," The Independent, 7 September 1989.

April 1989
An Egyptian delegate at a Toronto conference sponsored by the Working Group on International Surveillance and Verification accused "East and West alike" of hypocrisy regarding chemical and biological weapons: "you're telling us 'We have ours, but you can't get yours'." Unspecified intelligence reports state that Egypt may seek a "poor man's" strategic weapon that could include chemical warheads on ballistic missiles.
--Patrick E. Tyler, "Mubarak Reassigns Key Deputy; Move Said Face--Off with Defense Chief," Washington Post, 16 April 1989.

April 1989
Egypt's Minister of Defence Field Marshal Abdel-Halim Abu Ghazala steps down, seemingly under orders from President Mubarak, who wants "to introduce new thinking and new blood into the armed forces." Abu Ghazala was considered the second most powerful man in Egypt with the second most powerful post. Explanations include the embarrassing set of recent allegations concerning the existence of an Egyptian chemical weapons program.
--Deborah Pugh, "Egypt's Minister of Defence Told to Step Down," The Guardian (London), 17 April 1989; Carol Berger, "Egyptian Minister Became A 'Liability'," The Independent, 18 April 1989; Tony Walker, "Mubarak Disarms More Than Defence Chief," Financial Times, 18 April 1989.

May 1989
The joint Egyptian-Iraqi missile program for the Badr-2000 missile seems capable of carrying a chemical warhead, but according to the report, "it is known that neither Egypt nor Iraq is capable of developing the technology for a chemical warhead."
--"Middle East Missile Production: A New Era," Defense and Foreign Affairs, May/June 1989, p. 38.

May 1989
US sources claim that their intelligence and military have known "for a long time" that Egypt is developing chemical weapons. Furthermore, over the past year, the Israelis are suspected of exploding an Egyptian military depot revealing a stockpile of chemical weapons and inadvertently releasing a lethal effect.
--"Uncertainty in Egypt after Removal of Abu Ghazala," MidEast Markets, 1 May 1989.

June 1989
President Mubarak urges Libyan leader Qaddafi to alter some policies, including its pursuit of chemical weapons, if he wants to change Libya's "bad image.”
--E.A. Wayne, "Qaddafi Tries to Improve His Image," Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 1989.

July 1989
Chemical companies in India, where export restrictions are relatively loose, reportedly sold "hundreds of tons" of chemicals to make CW agents to Egypt, Iran and Iraq over the previous two years. The chemicals sold include thionyl chloride, a chemical precursor for mustard agents. [Note: Without thiodyglycol, thionyl chloride is simply and industrial agent.]
--Stephen Engelberg and Michael R. Gordon, "India Seen as Key on Chemical Arms," New York Times, 10 July 1989; David Horovitz, "Indian Gas Ingredients," Jerusalem Post, 12 July 1989.

July 1989
As the United States and Soviets proceed encouragingly on a treaty to eliminate chemical weapons, concerns are expressed on how to convince countries like Egypt, assumed to possess chemical weapons, to consent to data exchanges and inspection procedures.
--Nicholas Beeston, "Superpowers Make Positive Progress on Chemical Arms Pact; US and Soviet Union," The Times (London), 19 July 1989.

August 1989
Egypt's new defense minister, General Sabri Youssef Abu Taleb, states that Egypt is not acquiring chemical weapons.
--Jane Friedman, "Ties Secure Despite Spy Cases," Christian Science Monitor, 15 August 1989.

September 1989
Arab diplomats believe Egypt may have supplied Iraq with "rudimentary technology" to produce chemical weapons.
--Alan Cowell, "Hundreds Reported to Have Died in Iraqi Explosion," New York Times, 7 September 1989.

September 1989
During a chemical weapons conference in Canberra, Australia, Israel proposes discussions on banning chemical weapons in the Middle East. Egypt, Iran, and Iraq reject the proposal, preferring to wait until December to discuss the issue in Geneva at a UN meeting. US and Canadian chemical weapons experts believe Middle Eastern states including Egypt are not likely to give up their chemical weapons.
--Peter Goodspeed, "Superpowers Move Closer to Ban on Toxic Weapons," Toronto Star, 23 September 1989.

September 1989
Though Western and US intelligence agree that 20 countries, including Egypt, possess chemical weapons, the United States has never published an official list of the chemical weapons "club."
--Michael Evans, "West Believes 20 Nations Belong to the Chemical Weapons 'Club'," The Times (London), 26 September 1989.

September 1989
Iran and Iraq join Egypt, Syria, and Libya in either openly deploying chemical weapons or being suspected of producing them. Egypt is believed to have provided Syria with their CW technology.
--David Fairhall, "US-Soviet Convention Would Help Reverse Trend to Poison Warfare," The Guardian (London), 26 September 1989.

December 1989
Minister of Defense and War Production General Youssef Sabri Abu Taleb states in an interview, "Egypt is one of the signatories of the 1925 Geneva Convention which prohibits the use of those chemical weapons, so we announced that we are not in possession of them." Abu Taleb believes the best way to address the issue of CW proliferation in the region is to resolve the Arab-Israeli and Iraqi-Iranian conflicts.
--Gregory Copley, "Interview: General Youssef Sabri Abu Taleb," Defense & Foreign Affairs, December 1989, p. 20.

December 1989
Most of Egypt's defense programs fall under either the National Organization for Military Production (al-Hay'at al-Qawmiyya li'lintag al-harbi), which is run by the Ministry of Defense Production or the National Organization for Military Production (NOMP), which falls under the Ministry of Military Production. This is a bit of a misnomer because each factory within the NOMP is a supposedly independent company (the companies were formerly known Military Plant No. "X" or Factory "X"). The military industrial complex known as Abu Za'abal contains Abu Za'abal Company for Engineering Industries (Factory 100). It was founded in 1976 and covers 500,000 square meters. The company description provides no hint of chemical weapons production. However, the Abu Za'abal Company for Specialized Chemicals (Factory 18) produces powders for ammunition, rocket propellants, explosives (TNT) and ammonium perchlorate for composite propellants. The Kaha Company for Chemical Industries (Factory 270) produces smoke generators, illuminating flares, ammunition, dry batteries and nickel cadmium batteries. The military complex known as Heliopolis (Factory 81) is called the Heliopolis Company for Chemical Industries. Of interest, Factory 1 within the complex produces smoke and illuminating shells, and Factory 2 allegedly produces napalm bombs and gas masks.
--"Principal Egyptian Defense Manufacturers," Defense & Foreign Affairs, December 1989, p. 59.

	Updated October 2007