Japanese Yukia Amano takes office as head of the IAEA

VIENNA, Dec. 1 – RIA Novosti, Taras Lariohin. Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is changed from Tuesday – officially in the position of general director enters the representative of Japan Yukia Amano.

Prior to that, from September 2005 to September 2006, he served as chairman of the Board of Governors of the IAEA, and then became the permanent representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna.

Amano, born in 1947 was elected to head the Agency in the course held on 2-3 July 2009 special session of the Governing Council. His assertion in the position held at the IAEA General Conference in September this year.

As reported by RIA Novosti press-service of the IAEA, the first working day Amano will meet with officials of the Agency.

“No press events are scheduled,” – explained spokesperson of the IAEA.

Amano will succeed as head of the Agency, Mohammed ElBaradei, who headed it since December 1997 and was re-elected twice – in 2001 and 2005. In 2005, together with the IAEA, ElBaradei received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on preventing nuclear proliferation and security in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. In September last year, he informed the Board of Governors, which will no longer run for the head of the Agency.

IAEA – an international intergovernmental organization whose main purpose is to promote international cooperation in peaceful uses of atomic energy.

The major area of activity of the Agency – the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) on the IAEA has to verify that the obligations of its participants.