Parliament approves Maldives’ IAEA participation

The parliament has officially approved Maldives’ participation in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The approval was to join IAEA was granted with the unanimous votes of 61 parliamentarians. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu approved the Maldives’ participation in the IAEA, with a focus on seeking assistance in nuclear medicine, which is crucial for cancer treatment, following the decision made during a cabinet meeting. The issue was then sent to parliament, which forwarded the case to the parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee. Parliamentary approval was granted following the approval of the committee. While the government has decided to collaborate with IAEA, it disclosed that all the works pertaining to it will be led by the Ministry of Defence. The ministry will spearhead the process of joining the IAEA, which the government notes will be a long-term endeavour. Established on July 29, 1957, the IAEA aims to prevent the use of nuclear energy for military purposes while promoting its benefits. It currently has 178 member countries; the Maldives and Bhutan are the only regional nations not yet members. According to the Constitution of Maldives, international treaties must be submitted to and approved by Parliament before they can be implemented.