THE HINDU

Monday, October 15, 2007 : 0320 Hrs

Kathmandu (PTI): Nepal may soon join the global nuclear watchdog IAEA as a member after receiving the approval of the UN body so as to facilitate trade in nuclear material to boost its agriculture and medical sector.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently approved the membership of Nepal through its general conference, with Kathmandu now eagerly waiting a final approval from the US, said scientists at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.

Devi Dutta Poudel, senior scientific advisor in the Ministry, said Nepal would seek benefit mainly in medical and agriculture sectors through the elite membership.

Responding to an application sent by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan on June 7, the board of governors and general conference of the IAEA recommended and approved Nepal as a member country.

"Without being a member of the Agency, Nepal could not buy high doses of radio isotopes and other nuclear material which are important in various research work and in mutating the genes of plants and animals, as well as in the treatment of cancer," Poudel was quoted as saying by the Kantipur online on Sunday.

He said a Chinese company declined to sell bareggy therapy, important in treating cancer patients, to Bharatpur cancer hospital citing non-membership of the IAEA.

"Here we are not going to use nuclear energy for destructive purposes like making atom bomb, but we will seek benefit in the agriculture sector (for promoting production and livestock), medical purposes and no doubt, scientists would benefit while doing research in this sector," Poudel said.

Poudel said the parliament will have to ratify the decision before Nepal becomes a member of the IAEA.

Nepal, with a well-defined atomic energy policy, is also aiming to build a nuclear plant in the future under IAEA monitoring. Nepalese scientists could also receive training by the Agency once its membership is finally approved by the global nuclear watch dog.

Nepalese scientists have been seeking the membership of the global nuclear watchdog for the last ten years, but their demands were turned down citing an unfavourable situation in the country.

The US government has not yet removed the Nepal Maoists from the list of terrorists even after they joined the parliament and government this year.

The US has repeatedly pointed out that to be excluded from the list of terrorists, the Maoists need to renounce violence and agree to peaceful democratic process in the country.

Pressure from international community has been mounting on the Nepal Maoists to agree to a peaceful democratic transition after it walked out of the government on September 18 leading to a political crisis in the country.

News Sources : The Himalayan Times