Thursday July 2, 2009

Japan's Amano elected head of UN nuclear watchdog

By Mark Heinrich and Sylvia Westall

VIENNA (Reuters) - Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano was elected the next head of the U.N. atomic watchdog on Thursday and he vowed to tackle rich-poor tensions weakening the fight against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Japan's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano is pictured during an interview with Reuters February 10, 2009. (REUTERS/Herwig Prammer/Files)

Challenges for the holder of the sensitive post include Iran's disputed nuclear programme, blocked investigations into alleged military nuclear activities in Iran and Syria, and North Korea's nuclear tests.

Amano, supported by industrialised nations, narrowly defeated South Africa's Abdul Samad Minty in a sixth round of balloting after five inconclusive votes. It was his second try for the top job at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) following an election stalemate in March.

The 62-year-old succeeds Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei who retires in November.

Amano managed to win the required 2/3rds majority of the governing board members who expressed a preference, with 23 votes and one crucial abstention in the 35-nation meeting.

In earlier rounds he had taken 23 votes to Minty's 12 from developing nations, who regarded Amano as a poor communicator and a tool of Western powers.

"Everyone looked a little glum when the result was announced," said one European diplomat in the closed-door session. "There was total silence," said another.

Amano said he would balance IAEA resources between anti-proliferation inspections and fostering the safe use of nuclear energy for economic development and medicine.

"As a national from Japan, I will do my utmost to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. To do that, the solidarity of all the member states, countries of the north, from the south, from east and west, is absolutely necessary," said Amano.

Japan is the only country to have been attacked with nuclear weapons, by the United States, at the end of World War Two.

WOOS SCEPTICAL DEVELOPING NATIONS

"I will do my utmost to ...ensure sustainable development through the peaceful use of nuclear energy," he said in a nod to developing nations who say the IAEA does not do enough to foster sharing of nuclear technology by industrialised nuclear powers.

Amano has specialised in multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation posts and negotiations over 36 years in Japan's foreign service, with postings in Washington, Brussels, Geneva and Vientiane.

He is regarded as a reserved technocrat who would "depoliticise" the IAEA helm after 12 years of the outspoken ElBaradei, who often riled Washington and close allies.

Critics say he lacks communication skills and fear he might not adequately safeguard the IAEA from the influence of big powers, including Japan, who furnish the bulk of its budget.

Ambassador Taous Feroukhi of Algeria, the board's chair, said the governors would seal the election result by acclamation on Friday. But if any member state objects, another vote would be held where Amano would again need a 2/3rds edge to win.

"It's not necessarily a done deal tomorrow. There could be countries who say that selecting someone on such a slim margin is not a good idea," said a senior U.N. official, who asked not to be identified due to political sensitivities.

Some senior IAEA professionals in the inspection division and elsewhere were not keen on an Amano victory, diplomats said.

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