The military-ruled state, often a target of US ire for suppressing a democracy movement and its much-criticised human rights record, said earlier Monday that it wanted to erect a nuclear research reactor.

"We expect the government of Burma to live up to its obligations and to not pursue production of weapons grade fissile material," said a State Department official on condition of anonymity using the country's former name.

WHouse confirms visit by New Zealand PM Helen Clark Washington - Jan 22 (AFP) - President George W. Bush will meet New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark on March 26, the White House confirmed Tuesday. The two leaders will discuss bilateral and international issues, according to a statement. Clark and Bush met briefly at the APEC summit held in Shanghai in October. However, the White House meeting will be the first between a New Zealand Labour Party prime minister and a US president since prime minister Bill Rowling met president Gerald Ford in 1975. New Zealand fell off-side with Washington in the 1980s when a Labour administration under David Lange declared New Zealand nuclear-free. The United States refused to send its ships on visits claiming the policy would compromise its neither confirm nor deny policy on nuclear weapons and New Zealand was downgraded from an official ally to just a friend. Relations between the two countries have warmed following New Zealand's response to the war against terrorism following the attacks on the United States on September 11.

The official declined to say if Washington was concerned over Myanmar's capacity to maintain a safe, secure nuclear site, or whether US officials would address the project in discussions with Russia.

Washington's response to the Myanmar nuclear plan was a marked contrast to its frequently unflattering appraisal of the country's human rights record and political situation.

Some observers in Southeast Asia have questioned whether the ruling junta, which already has trouble maintaining its creaking electricity grid has the expertise and scientific base necessary to safeguarding nuclear materials.

In a statement issued late Monday, Myanmar's Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win said the junta had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to construct the reactor which would be used "for peaceful purposes".

Russia said last February that it planned to enter talks with Myanmar on building a nuclear reactor in the Southeast Asian country. Media reports have said hundreds of Myanmar scientists are now in Russia receiving training.

Khin Maung Win said that under the Non-Proliferation Treaty which Myanmar signed in 1992, it had the right to pursue "the peaceful use and application of nuclear technology".

He denied reports that Myanmar has secretly brought two Pakistani nuclear scientists into the country to help it fulfill its nuclear ambitions.

Thailand's Bangkok Post has reported that the Vienna-based IAEA was concerned about the plans to build a reactor in Myanmar and had asked Moscow to provide details of the negotiations.

During an inspection last year, an IAEA mission found that the country's safety standards were "well below the minimum the body would regard as acceptable," it quoted an unnamed official with the agency as saying.

earlier report
Myanmar Confirms Plans To Build Nuclear Research Reactor
 Washington (AFP) Jan 22, 2002
The military regime in Myanmar (Burma) is planning to build a nuclear research reactor and is in negotiations with Russia over the facility, Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win has confirmed.

In a statement issued late Monday, Khin Maung Win said the junta had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to construct the reactor which would be used "for peaceful purposes".

"The Myanmar government is striving to acquire modern technology in all fields, including maritime, aerospace, medical and nuclear," he said in the statement.

"It is in the light of these considerations that Myanmar made enquiries for the possibility of setting up a nuclear research reactor. A proposal has since been received from the Russian Federation."

Russia said last February that it planned to enter talks with Myanmar on building a nuclear reactor in the Southeast Asian country for scientific purposes.

Media reports have said that hundreds of Myanmar scientists are presently in Russia receiving nuclear training.

Khin Maung Win said that under the Non-Proliferation Treaty which Myanmar signed in 1992, it had the right to pursue "the peaceful use and application of nuclear technology".

"All our neighbouring countries, with the exception of Laos, are already reaping the benefits from nuclear research reactors operating in their countries," he said.

"In this age of globalization it is imperative that developing countries such as Myanmar actively seek to narrow the development gap so as not to be marginalized."

However, the development is likely to raise concerns among western governments who view military-run Myanmar as a pariah regime due to its poor human rights record and refusal to make democratic reforms.

There will also be questions over whether Myanmar, whose economy has been brought to its knees by heavy international sanctions, can afford such a facility.

Khin Maung Win denied media reports that Myanmar has secretly brought two Pakistani nuclear scientists into the country to help it fulfil its nuclear ambitions.

"The Myanmar government categorically states once again that no nuclear scientists from Pakistan have been given sanctuary in Myanmar," he said.

However, he said Myanmar scientists had been trained by the IAEA "in the application of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes".

Thailand's Bangkok Post has reported that the Vienna-based IAEA was concerned about the plans to build a reactor in Myanmar and had asked Moscow to provide details of the negotiations.

It said Myanmar had approached the IAEA in September with its plans to acquire a reactor, and that two months later a team from the organisation made an inspection visit.

The team concluded that the country's safety standards were "well below the minimum the body would regard as acceptable," it quoted an unnamed IAEA official as saying.

All rights reserved. � 2002 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

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