Editorial: First Japanese director general of IAEA
Jul. 7, 2009
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the so-called “nuclear watchdog,” will be headed by a Japanese director general for the first time in its history. With the international community unable to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the newly-elected director general will assume a heavy responsibility. We hold high expectations that he will exercise solid leadership as the first IAEA chief from Japan, the only nation to have suffered nuclear attack.
Yukiya Amano, the next director general of IAEA, worked as a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and specialized in issues of nuclear disarmament and nuclear power generation. He is currently serving as ambassador of Japan to the Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna. He won the election by a narrow margin, but it was good news for Japan, which made a diplomatic push to support him in the election campaign.
Established in 1957, IAEA has grown to 146 member nations and a staff of 2,300. The agency promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while carefully safeguarding, through inspection, nuclear technologies and materials so they are not diverted to military use.
In 2005, IAEA and its current director general, Mohamed ElBaradei, received the Nobel Peace Prize. IAEA is the chief organization for implementing practical measures to promote the goals of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In 1981, a Japanese candidate ran for the seat of IAEA’s director general but lost the election. It is said that a sense of caution was felt toward Japan at the time, as one of the largest producers of nuclear energy and a possessor of advanced technologies.
Japan has, however, gradually gained the trust of the international community. Among the countries that are engaged in nuclear power generation, Japan was one of the first countries to permit strict inspections of its nuclear facilities without advance notice. Although some Japanese politicians are heard to say, from time to time, that Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons, the nation’s record as a “model” of compliance with nuclear nonproliferation yielded support for this election victory.
This is no time, however, for celebration. IAEA faces many urgent issues. North Korea has willfully conducted its second nuclear test. Iran continues its enrichment of uranium despite the U.N. Security Council’s resolution imposing sanctions. Vigorous efforts must now be made to arouse international public opinion so these countries will be persuaded to stop developing nuclear weapons.
We are also concerned about the gap between developed and developing countries, an issue which arose in the course of the IAEA election. One example is the discrepancy in opinions concerning the “nuclear fuel bank” plan that proposes international control over nuclear materials for power generation. In order to prevent nuclear materials from being used for military purposes, Director General ElBaradei has advocated this plan, and President Barack Obama is promoting it.
However, developing countries which want to introduce nuclear power to combat global warming have voiced growing concern that the superpowers may restrict the availability of nuclear materials through the fuel banks. As Japan tends to be viewed as pro-American, the newly-elected director general will be tested in terms of his ability to administer the “effective and impartial” management he has pledged.
President Obama’s recent speech in Prague has raised expectations for a world without nuclear weapons. If Mr. Amano, as head of IAEA, can strengthen the international regime to prevent nuclear proliferation, the world may then advance toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. Such a scenario would make a Japanese head at IAEA of historical significance.
The Japanese government must provide its full support to Mr. Amano and IAEA by showing the international community that the nation stands emphatically for a nuclear-free policy.
(Originally published on July 4, 2009)
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Japan happy that Amano elected next IAEA chief, vows backup (July 4, 2009)
Yukiya Amano, the next director general of IAEA, worked as a diplomat in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and specialized in issues of nuclear disarmament and nuclear power generation. He is currently serving as ambassador of Japan to the Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna. He won the election by a narrow margin, but it was good news for Japan, which made a diplomatic push to support him in the election campaign.
Established in 1957, IAEA has grown to 146 member nations and a staff of 2,300. The agency promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while carefully safeguarding, through inspection, nuclear technologies and materials so they are not diverted to military use.
In 2005, IAEA and its current director general, Mohamed ElBaradei, received the Nobel Peace Prize. IAEA is the chief organization for implementing practical measures to promote the goals of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In 1981, a Japanese candidate ran for the seat of IAEA’s director general but lost the election. It is said that a sense of caution was felt toward Japan at the time, as one of the largest producers of nuclear energy and a possessor of advanced technologies.
Japan has, however, gradually gained the trust of the international community. Among the countries that are engaged in nuclear power generation, Japan was one of the first countries to permit strict inspections of its nuclear facilities without advance notice. Although some Japanese politicians are heard to say, from time to time, that Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons, the nation’s record as a “model” of compliance with nuclear nonproliferation yielded support for this election victory.
This is no time, however, for celebration. IAEA faces many urgent issues. North Korea has willfully conducted its second nuclear test. Iran continues its enrichment of uranium despite the U.N. Security Council’s resolution imposing sanctions. Vigorous efforts must now be made to arouse international public opinion so these countries will be persuaded to stop developing nuclear weapons.
We are also concerned about the gap between developed and developing countries, an issue which arose in the course of the IAEA election. One example is the discrepancy in opinions concerning the “nuclear fuel bank” plan that proposes international control over nuclear materials for power generation. In order to prevent nuclear materials from being used for military purposes, Director General ElBaradei has advocated this plan, and President Barack Obama is promoting it.
However, developing countries which want to introduce nuclear power to combat global warming have voiced growing concern that the superpowers may restrict the availability of nuclear materials through the fuel banks. As Japan tends to be viewed as pro-American, the newly-elected director general will be tested in terms of his ability to administer the “effective and impartial” management he has pledged.
President Obama’s recent speech in Prague has raised expectations for a world without nuclear weapons. If Mr. Amano, as head of IAEA, can strengthen the international regime to prevent nuclear proliferation, the world may then advance toward the abolition of nuclear weapons. Such a scenario would make a Japanese head at IAEA of historical significance.
The Japanese government must provide its full support to Mr. Amano and IAEA by showing the international community that the nation stands emphatically for a nuclear-free policy.
(Originally published on July 4, 2009)
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Japan happy that Amano elected next IAEA chief, vows backup (July 4, 2009)
