"Development and transfer of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes under IAEA's mandate offers immense potential to meet important development needs of poor countries"

Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Shanker D. Bairagi, presented the Credentials to Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) amidst a ceremony held in Vienna on Tuesday.

Bairagi is accredited as Nepal's Ambassador/Permanent Representative to various International Organizations in Vienna, including IAEA.

During a meeting that followed the ceremony, Ambassador Bairagi highlighted the important role the IAEA has been playing as the global centre on the matters of nuclear verification and security, safety and technology transfer. He underlined that development and transfer of technologies for peaceful purposes under IAEA's mandate offers immense potential to meet important development needs of poor countries particularly in the areas of health, agriculture, water management and climate change apart from helping to reduce the technology gap that exists between the least developed countries and the rest of the world. He called upon IAEA to give priority to technology needs of least developed countries in line with priorities outlined in the Istanbul Programme of Action.

Ambassador Bairagi reaffirmed Nepal's strong commitment to general and complete disarmament as well as its firm belief in the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The Ambassador thanked the Agency for the support extended to Nepal under its Country Programs Framework (CPF) for technical cooperation through various important projects and underlined the need for expanding the scope of cooperation to address vital technological needs of Nepal in various fields of development.

The Director General underscored that the IAEA remains committed to develop new technologies that aim to address persistent and emerging developmental challenges and technological needs of countries around the world. He stated that safety and safe use of new technologies is as important as their development and for that it is critical on the part of Member States to enact new laws and regulations at the earliest to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology. He assured that the Agency will continue to use its technological expertise to the cause of development taking into consideration country specific situations and varying developmental needs. He highlighted a number of important forthcoming meetings including its General Conference and a scientific forum dedicated to food security and expressed hope that participation in such meetings will be helpful for Member States including Nepal. nepalnews.com