Japan’s Amano confirmed as ElBaradei’s successor at IAEA
July 3rd, 2009 - 11:53 pm ICT by IANS ( Leave a comment )Vienna, June 3 (DPA) Members of the International Atomic Energy Agency unanimously designated Japan’s Yukiyo Amano as the next IAEA chief Friday, ending a rift between developing and industrialised countries over his nomination.
With the official confirmation of his election Thursday, the Japanese diplomat is now set to assume his post in December, succeeding Mohamed ElBaradei, who retires as director general after 12 years in office.
Amano, Japan’s ambassador to the UN in Vienna, narrowly won a run-off vote against South African diplomat Abdul Samad Minty.
Developing countries backing Minty had for several months blocked Amano’s election.
But on Friday, developing countries grouped in the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 issued statements expressing their support for Amano, 62, who is seen as closely aligned with the US.
Minty congratulated Amano, and offered his country’s support: “Our future objective is to assist in fostering a co-operative spirit and to focus on what unites us, namely; creating a better life for all free from the threat of the use of nuclear weapons.”
Meanwhile, the Japanese government put high hopes in the next IAEA leader.
“We hope that Amano would tackle the nuclear issues in the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament,” top government spokesman Takeo Kawamura said in Tokyo.
- Japanese secures lead in race for IAEA top post - Feb 16, 2009
- Watchdog role not enough for IAEA: new chief Amano (Lead) - Sep 14, 2009
- IAEA fails to elect ElBaradei's successor - Mar 27, 2009
- Yukiya Amano appointed as next IAEA chief - Sep 14, 2009
- Japan, South Africa vie for ElBaradei succession at IAEA - Jan 03, 2009
- IAEA meets to finalise ElBaradei's successors - Jun 09, 2009
- Japanese diplomat Amano chosen as next IAEA chief - Jul 02, 2009
- South Africa commits to nuclear agency's aim to create better life - Jul 07, 2009
- El-Baradei was 'too soft on Tehran', says WikiLeaks cable - Feb 10, 2011
- IAEA board meets to mull latest negative Iran report - Mar 01, 2010
- Iran should clarify outstanding nuclear issues : IAEA - Nov 18, 2011
- Iran issue unsolved at ElBaradei's last IAEA board meeting - Nov 26, 2009
- Pressure mounts on Iran at ElBaradei's final IAEA board meeting (Lead) - Nov 26, 2009
- Egypt crisis: US sizing up ex-IAEA chief El-Baradei - Feb 01, 2011
- IAEA's top nuclear inspector resigns - Jul 01, 2010
Tags: amano, atomic energy agency, better life, developing countries, director general, disarmament, government spokesman, high hopes, industrialised countries, international atomic energy, international atomic energy agency, japanese diplomat, japanese government, june 3, minty, mohamed elbaradei, non aligned movement, nuclear issues, nuclear weapons, yukiyo