Asia-Pacific News
Japan has high hopes for Amano in nuclear non-proliferation post
Jul 3, 2009, 5:20 GMT
Tokyo - The Japanese government puts high hopes in Yukiya Amano as the first Japanese ever to lead the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the top government spokesman said Friday.
'We hope that Amano would tackle the nuclear issues in the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament,' Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a press conference.
Amano, 62, who is Japan's current ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, won a two-thirds vote from the IAEA's governing board Thursday and is set to become director general when Mohamed ElBaradei retires after 12 years in office at the end of November.
'It (Amano's appointment) has a significant meaning as Japan is the only nation that suffered atomic bombings,' Kawamura said.
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