Belgium PM hopes Saddam verdict will not create fresh conflicts

Bangalore, Nov 6 (UNI) Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verofostadt today hoped that the death sentence against Iraq's former President Saddam Hussein will not lead to fresh conflicts.

Talking to newspersons here after visiting the prestigious Indian Institute of Sciences, he said it was a good thing that finally there was a judgement against the regime that fought the humanity. ''I hope this shall not create any tension in the European Union and lead to fresh conflicts,'' he said, adding that the EU was always against the death penalty of any individual.

Earlier, the visiting Prime Minister went around the IISc campus and held discussions with the Director and other experts. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the institute and the Belgium's leading Research and Development Institute IMEC was also signed in his presence.

The MoU was aimed at performing joint research on various Microelectronics Nano technology and design methods on new materials for 45 nm CMOS technologies as well as nanotechnology for the post CMOS era. In addition, RF-CMOS and MEMS had been identified as potential joint research topics.

IMEC is Europe's leading independent nanoelectronics and nanotechnology research Institute.

He said the collaboration with India was mainly because it has performed first rate research in microelectronics and Nanotechnology. The MoU would provide a unique platform and lead to a substantial relation between the two institutions, he hoped.

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