• English
  • العربية
  • 中文
  • Français
  • Русский
  • Español

You are here

Conference Confirms Yukiya Amano as Next IAEA Director General

Director General Designate Yukiya Amano and General Conference President Jennifer MacMillan. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The 53rd IAEA General Conference today confirmed the appointment of Mr. Yukiya Amano of Japan, a Japanese career diplomat, as the next IAEA Director General. Mr. Amano assumes office on 1 December 2009, succeeding Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei to the Agency´s top post. His appointment is for a term of 4 years - until November 2013. Mr. Amano will now carry the title Director General Designate until he assumes office in December. He will become the Agency´s fifth Director General in its 52-year history.

Mr. Amano was formerly the Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to International Organizations in Vienna and Governor on the IAEA Board of Governors. On 2 July 2009, Mr. Amano was selected by the IAEA Board of Governors to succeed Dr. ElBaradei.

In a statement to delegates of the 53rd IAEA General Conference, Mr. Amano described his appointment as coming at a period of change in global situation surrounding the IAEA. These changes include increasing risks of nuclear proliferation and nuclar terrorism, and concerns about energy demand, climate change, food security, water resources, human health and the ecominc development. With the use of nuclear techniques, the Agency has the ability and responsibility to address these global issues, Mr. Amano said. He stressed that the IAEA can maximize its contribution in addressing these global issues by pursuing its dual-objective: ensuring the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons on one hand and promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear technology on the other.

"Being merely a nuclear watchdog does not suffice," Director General Designate Amano said. "The IAEA needs to pursue its dual objective in a balanced manner in addressing the global issues."

As one having been entrusted with the responsibilites of "chief administrative officer", Mr. Amano pledged to manage the IAEA in an impartial and reliable manner, and for the benefit of its Member States.

Last update: 13 Oct 2017

Stay in touch

Newsletter