From 31 October to 6 November 2013, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano visited the United States of America and Canada.
During his visit to the U.S., the Director General met Secretary of State, John Kerry. They discussed the importance of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the use of nuclear technology to protect the marine environment, and nuclear safeguards.
The Director General also met Ms. Susan Rice, the National Security Advisor; Mr. Daniel Poneman, Deputy Secretary of Energy; and Mr. Dean Pittman, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisations, as well as other senior staff of the U.S. Department of State.
Director General Amano also met senior members of the U.S. Senate - Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Senator Bob Corker and Senator Lindsey Graham.
The Director General gave a public address to the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington D.C. on the work of the IAEA, and visited the Belfer Center at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University.
In Canada, the Director General met Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird. The Minister noted the crucial role the Agency plays in contributing to international peace and security and reiterated the Canadian Government's commitment to the mandate of the Agency. The Director General discussed with the Minister issues related to nuclear security and nuclear safety, the IAEA's work in assisting developing countries in peaceful use of nuclear energy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and the work of the Agency in the area of safeguards.
Director General Amano also met Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver; Dr. Michael Binder, President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; Mr. Peter M. Boehm, Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Dr. John Barrett, President of the Canadian Nuclear Association; as well as senior officials from the office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.