The country's objective, through its nuclear energy commission formed in 1946 was to "study the civil use of atomic energy and by secret order to also study the scientific and technical bases for building nuclear weapons," according to a report in the Nuclear Weapons Archive.

By 1963, the country had drawn up detailed technical proposals to begin development of a nuclear program but financial concerns prevented the allocation of funds to such a program and the proposal never got off the ground.

In 1969, the country signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is believed to be in compliance with its obligations today.

-- Compiled by Wendy Mbekelu for the Online NewsHour