Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire: Yukiya Amano

Showing posts with label Yukiya Amano. Show all posts

Monday, December 13, 2010

IANS IAEA to help Bangladesh build N-power plant

Dhaka, Dec 13 (IANS) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will extend all-out support to Bangladesh in setting up a nuclear power plant, visiting director general of the global nuclear watchdog Yukiya Anano said Monday.
'Bangladesh is an excellent partner of the IAEA. We will help the country strengthen the nuclear infrastructure and capacity building to set up the power plant,' he said.
http://sify.com/news/iaea-to-help-bangladesh-build-n-power-plant-news-international-kmnt4sfagbh.html

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Six countries compete for Vietnam’s nuclear power projects

VietNamNet Bridge – The US Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Glyn Davies said that at least six countries want to be chosen as the contractor of Vietnam’s first nuclear power plants. More at:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/2504/six-countries-compete-for-vietnam-s-nuclear-power-projects.html

Friday, December 3, 2010

U.S. Sees Greater North Korea Nuclear Threat

By JAY SOLOMON

VIENNA—The Obama administration told the United Nations nuclear watchdog that North Korea likely has built more than one uranium-enrichment facility, significantly raising the proliferation threat posed by the secretive communist state.
U.S. and European officials are pressing the International Atomic Energy Agency to better scrutinize Pyongyang's potential role in sharing its nuclear technologies with third countries. But the U.N. agency's ability to monitor Pyongyang is limited: North Korea kicked out the IAEA's inspectors in 2009.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704377004575650960600657360.html

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Iran, Syria in spotlight at UN atomic watchdog meet

Flag of the International Atomic Energy Agency...

Image via WikipediaIran's disputed nuclear drive will top the agenda of a meeting of the UN atomic watchdog this week, a prelude to the resumption of long-stalled talks between Tehran and world powers. The International Atomic Energy Agency convenes for its traditional year-end board meeting at its Vienna headquarters on Thursday and Friday, with the latest report on its long-running investigation into the Islamic republic's nuclear activities set to dominate debate.
Those discussions will effectively serve as a curtain-raiser to a much higher-level round of talks in Geneva three days later where Iran is to sit down with the so-called P5+1 grouping of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany for the first time in over a year.
The IAEA has been investigating Iran's nuclear programme for eight years now to try and establish whether it is entirely peaceful as Tehran claims or whether it masks a covert drive to build a bomb as western powers believe.
In his latest report, circulated to IAEA member states last week, watchdog chief Yukiya Amano complained that Iran was defying UN Security Council resolutions and pressing ahead with uranium enrichment, even if the activities appeared to have run into some sort of technical problems recently.
Iran is under four sets of UN sanctions over its refusal to suspend enrichment of uranium, which can be used to make nuclear fuel or, in highly extended form, the fissile core of an atom bomb.
And the sense of unease in the Middle East was underlined by the WikiLeaks diplomatic cables in which the Saudi king was described as pushing Washington to take military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Earlier this week, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad admitted that some of the equipment in the enrichment process had been damaged by a computer malware amid speculation the activities were the target of a cyber-attack.
But he nevertheless insisted that Iran's "right to enrich uranium and produce (nuclear) fuel... is non-negotiable."
The exact agenda of the December 6-7 talks in Geneva is not clear: while the world powers want to focus on the enrichment issue, Tehran wants a wider discussion that includes regional security issues.
The last round of negotiations deadlocked in October 2009.
In addition to Iran, the IAEA's 35-member board of governors will also discuss the agency's latest report on alleged illicit nuclear activities in Syria.
Damascus is accused of building an undeclared reactor at a remote desert site called Dair Alzour until it was bombed by Israeli planes in September 2007.
The IAEA has been investigating the allegations since 2008 and has already said that the building bore some of the characteristics of a nuclear facility.
UN inspectors also detected "significant" traces of man-made uranium at that site, as yet unexplained by Damascus.
In addition, the watchdog has also requested access to three other locations allegedly functionally related to Dair Alzour, but so far to no avail.
Diplomats close to the IAEA say agency chief Amano is growing increasingly impatient with Syria's stonewalling and could soon start pushing for a so-called "special inspection" in Damascus, a rarely-used tool that allows UN inspectors to request more intrusive access to sites. If Syria were to block that request, it could face referral to the UN Security Council.
North Korea will also be on the IAEA agenda, even if UN inspectors have been barred from the reclusive stalinist state.
Earlier this month a US scientist revealed he had been shown a new uranium enrichment plant equipped with at least 1,000 centrifuges at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex outside the capital Pyongyang.
The news heightened international concern that the communist regime -- which has conducted two nuclear weapons tests -- could produce highly-enriched weapons-grade uranium on top of the plutonium already in its possession.
Finally, the IAEA board is set to discuss a US-backed proposal for a nuclear fuel bank, which countries could turn to if their regular supplies were cut.
Diplomats said they expect the board to adopt the proposal.http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Iran_Syria_in_spotlight_at_UN_atomic_watchdog_meet_999.html

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Major powers against solving nuclear issue: Ahmadinejad

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Major_powers_against_solving_nuclear_issue_Ahmadinejad_999.html

Tehran (AFP) Nov 11, 2010 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said major powers are against solving the controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear programme, state television reported on its website on Thursday. "In the next few days, the dialogue will commence but our experience shows that they are not seeking to solve the issue," Ahmadinejad said, referring to upcoming talks with six countries over Tehran's nuclear drive.
"From our side the issue has already been solved and we will continue our peaceful nuclear activities. The Western countries are arrogant and do not take others into account."
The talks are aimed at allaying Western concerns that Iran's nuclear programme is masking a weapons drive under the guise of a civilian programme, something Tehran denies.
Iran has proposed the talks be held in Istanbul on November 23 or December 5. Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany agree on Istanbul, but have proposed a date of November 15.
The final date is yet to be fixed.
Ahmadinejad questioned again the mandate of the six powers.
"What is the basis of this group and based on which law it was formed," he asked.
"If it consists of the five UN Security Council members, then what is Germany doing here? We welcome Germany's presence, but then we say that for the reason Germany is in the talks, others should also be in."
Iran has previously said that allies Brazil and Turkey be involved in these talks.
Ahmadinejad also accused the UN atomic watchdog of "giving information" to Iran's arch-foe, the United States.
"Accepting the additional protocol means that all our nuclear activities must be under the supervision of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), which gives information to America," he said.
In February 2006, Iran ceased to apply the additional protocol of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which calls for tougher inspections of nuclear activities of member countries.
On Monday, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano told the UN General Assembly "Iran has not provided the necessary cooperation to permit the agency to confirm that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."
Iran must carry out "full implementation" of IAEA and UN Security Council resolutions, he said.
Iran's deputy ambassador to the UN, Eshagh al-Habib, hit back, saying Amano's claim was "incorrect and misleading."
He called the UN Security Council sanction resolutions "illegal."
Iran is under four sets of UN sanctions for refusing to abandon its uranium enrichment programme, the most controversial part of its nuclear activities.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Russia, IAEA to step up cooperation

Russia is ready to boost cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency in ensuring security at nuclear facilities, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday.
The number of countries operating nuclear plants will grow to about 30 by 2030, which raises concerns over nuclear energy security, Putin said during a meeting with IAEA head Yukiya Amano in Moscow.
Russia, which has constantly cooperated with the IAEA, especially in developing innovative nuclear reactors, is ready to continue joint work with the agency, Putin said.
"IAEA experts give the highest evaluations to security at our nuclear facilities," he added.
The prime minister praised the appointment of Alexander Bychkov, Russia's representative at the IAEA, as the organization's deputy director general heading the Department of Atomic Energy. Another Russian national, Yury Sokolov, was the department's head before Bychkov took office in September.
During his stay in Russia, Amano met with Sergei Kiriyenko, the head of Russia's state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom and is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.
MOSCOW, October 25 (RIA Novosti)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Honest Nuclear Broker IAEA Offers Impartial Advice to Countries Interested in Nuclear Power IAEA General Conference

Image via Wikipedia

22 September 2010

IAEA experts met with Member States representatives to illustrate the services available to countries interested in nuclear power. (Photo: G. Verlini/IAEA)

With 65 countries expressing an interest in launching a nuclear power programme, the need for an "honest nuclear broker" that provides them with impartial advise is higher than ever. The IAEA can fulfil that role.
As the world´s leading international centre of nuclear cooperation promoting the safe, secure and sustainable development of nuclear power, the IAEA can offer impartial, non-commercial advice to countries with little or no experience in nuclear power.
At a briefing held during the 54th IAEA General Conference, IAEA experts met with Member States representatives to illustrate the services available to countries interested in nuclear power, including the newly-launched Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Group (INIG).
The Group, which brings together and coordinates technical services from different IAEA Departments, offers newcomer countries a comprehensive approach to nuclear power development.
"INIG builds on and strengthens mechanisms already in place within the IAEA," explained Anne Starz, who heads the IAEA´s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Group.
As part of its array of services offered to countries, the IAEA also runs workshops and fora for nuclear newcomers.
"Our aim is to help Member States´ become intelligent nuclear customers," said Starz.
During the briefing, representatives from both technology holder and receiver countries described how international cooperation is helping meet the world´s rising demand for nuclear power.
See Story Resources for more information.
-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

Safety New and Old Future Safety Challenges Encompass New and Old Nuclear Generations IAEA General Conference

Image via Wikipedia

21 September 2010

Denis Flory is IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. (Photo: K. Nikolic/IAEA)

The introduction of the latest generation of nuclear power reactors in new nuclear countries, as well as managing aging reactors in mature nuclear countries, is a crucial challenge facing the IAEA today, said Denis Flory, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.
Speaking during the 54th IAEA General Conference, Flory explained that while the introduction of nuclear power in newcomer countries remains an ongoing challenge, the issue of countries with two or more nuclear technology generations is also an area of growing importance.
"Technology and public requirements have evolved over time," said Flory.
"The safety requirements of today are not those that were in place years ago. Bridging the gap between old and new generations of nuclear power plants is an issue, and we need to address this new reality."
In recent months, over 60 countries worldwide have expressed an interest in developing a nuclear power programme.
"It is the IAEA´s role to advise them on developing a programme that is safe, secure and sustainable," he said.
Flory also spoke of the relationship between nuclear safety and security, and of their strong ties.
"Wherever there are interfaces between safety and security, the task is to address them in a joint fashion," he said.
"Safety measures often address security concerns and vice versa."

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Tougher Nuclear Inspections Allowed in 102 Nations

The International Atomic Energy Agency is now authorized to conduct heightened nuclear oversight of 102 nations, the United Nations announced today (see GSN, Jan. 5, 2009).
The Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreements with Rwanda and Swaziland have entered into force.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation governing board established the Additional Protocol in 1997 to increase the "effectiveness and efficiency" of IAEA inspections, according to a U.N. press release. By joining the arrangement, signatory nations agree to grant the agency additional data on their atomic activities and to allow audits of their nuclear facilities with little notice.
The Additional Protocol is an “essential tool for the agency to be able to provide credible assurance, not only that declared nuclear material is not being diverted from peaceful uses, but also that there are no undeclared nuclear material and activities in states with comprehensive safeguards agreements," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in a statement to his organization's General Conference.
The 18 nations outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty should promptly enter the pact, Amano added (U.N. release, Sept. 20).

UN atomic watchdog sees 'new era' in nuclear energy

Image via WikipediaUN atomic watchdog sees 'new era' in nuclear energy

by Staff Writers Vienna (AFP) Sept 20, 2010 There is a renaissance of worldwide interest in nuclear power as countries seek clean and stable sources of energy which will not exacerbate climate change, the UN atomic watchdog said Monday. "It is not an exaggeration to say that we have entered a new era." the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, told the body's annual general conference on its first day.
Some 60 countries were currently considering launching nuclear energy programmes, Amano said.
"We expect between 10 and 25 new countries to bring their first nuclear power plants on line by 2030," he said.
The growing importance of nuclear energy had had a significant impact on the IAEA's work, Amano continued.
"While it is up to member states to decide whether or not to opt for muclear power, the agency has a key role to play in ensuring that the expansion in nuclear power takes place in an efficient, responsible and sustainable manner."
It was the IAEA's job to help countries put the appropri
more

Monday, September 20, 2010

Israel row looms over UN atomic watchdog meet

Vienna (AFP) Sept 20, 2010 - A bitter row over Israel's assumed nuclear arsenal looked set to loom large over the annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency which began Monday. The conference, which brings together all 151 member states of the IAEA. is slated to last until Friday and will tackle a long list of issues ranging from the election of member states to the board of governors, the 2011 ... more

IAEA Endorses Location for Egyptian Atomic Reactor

from GSN Daily News

http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100920_2838.php

The International Atomic Energy Agency has endorsed a proposed location for Egypt to built its initial atomic power reactor, the Indo-Asian News Service reported Saturday (see GSN, Aug. 26).
The al-Dabaa site about 180 miles from Cairo complies with international standards, agency experts said Saturday.
The North African nation intends to build four atomic energy reactors by 2025; the first of the reactors is slated to begin work in 2019 (Indo-Asian News Service/The Hindu, Sept. 18).

Russia, US Request IAEA to Verify Weapons-Grade Plutonium’s Disposition

from IAEA Top News RSS Feed

On 16 September 2010, the IAEA´s Director General Yukiya Amano received a jointly signed letter from the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, and the U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, requesting that the IAEA undertake “an important verification role under the amended Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the United States of America Concerning the Management and Disposition of Plutonium Designated as No Longer Required for Defense Purposes and Related Cooperation”.

IAEA meeting begins with row over nuclear inspectors in Iran

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Row over Israel to dominate UN atomic watchdog meeting

A bitter row over Israel's assumed nuclear arsenal looks set to dominate the annual general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency which begins Monday. Every year at the week-long conference which brings together all 151 member states of the IAEA, Arab nations table a resolution urging Israel to foreswear atomic weapons and sign up to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Because the resolution is non-binding and the Jewish state -- believed to be the only Middle East power to possess nuclear weapons -- steadfastly refuses to become a signatory of the NPT, it is purely symbolic.
But the issue has nevertheless led to long and bitter debates at past conferences, pitting highly developed western countries against emerging powers, particularly in the Middle East.
When the resolution was passed with a very narrow majority last year, the IAEA's new director general Yukiya Amano was instructed to "work with member states towards achieving" the goal of persuading Israel to join the NPT.
And Amano provided an update of his efforts in an 81-page report published at the beginning of September.
Nevertheless, Arab states quickly dismissed Amano's findings as "weak and disappointing" and criticised the report for being "devoid of any substance and not up to the typical level of the agency's reporting."
They accused the IAEA, which has long been investigating both Iran and Syria for alleged illicit nuclear activity, of using "double standards" when dealing with Israel.
By contrast, the United States and its western allies believe that pressing ahead with the resolution again this year could jeopardise newly-launched Middle East peace talks.
It would also not help in efforts to persuade Israel to attend a conference in 2012 on freeing the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction, they argue.
At a time when US President Obama and State Secretary Hillary Clinton were "actively pursuing Middle East peace .... now is not the time and the IAEA is not the place for this divisive resolution," Washington's ambassador to the IAEA, Glyn Davies told reporters on the sideline of a meeting of the IAEA's 35-member board last week.
It was "important that we avoid engaging here in Vienna in a very divisive, tough debate. A resolution, if it's adopted could threaten these talks, could send a very bad signal," he said.
Washington's concern is shown by the decision to fly in President Barack Obama's top nuclear advisor, Gary Samore, to Vienna last to try and persuade Arab nations to drop their resolution.
The annual conference, scheduled to run from September 20-24, will be opened with a message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, followed by the opening address by IAEA chief Amano.
The agenda for the rest of the week is heavy, with topics ranging from the election of member states to the board of governors, the 2011 budget, nuclear security and technical coperation.
The debate on Israeli's nuclear capabilities, one of the last items on the agenda, will come towards the end of the week.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Syria Pressed to Allow Nuclear Inspections from GSN Daily News

The United States and European Union said yesterday Syria must allow U.N. inspectors to revisit a suspected nuclear reactor facility leveled in a 2007 Israeli airstrike, Reuters reported (see GSN, Sept. 13).

(Sep. 17) - International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano, shown Monday at a meeting of his organization's 35-nation governing board. Western powers yesterday encouraged the U.N. nuclear watchdog to invoke its right to conduct a special inspection of a suspected Syrian nuclear site if Damascus continues denying the agency access to the area (Joe Klamar/Getty Images).
International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano in a new report said Damascus continued to block agency requests to inspect the Dair Alzour site. Monitors have been barred from the area since a June 2008 visit turned up traces of uranium that some experts believe point to nuclear tests geared toward improving abilities to gather weapon-grade plutonium from used nuclear reactor fuel.
The Obama administration would endorse the U.N. nuclear watchdog's use of "all tools" available in investigating Syria's nuclear operations, said Glyn Davies, Washington's ambassador to the agency.
"Unfortunately and with growing concern, information related to Syria's clandestine nuclear activities is deteriorating or has been lost entirely due to Syria's refusal to cooperate," Davies said in released remarks, echoing the IAEA report's suggestion that evidence could disappear from the site with time.
"Necessary information concerning the Dair Alzour site is deteriorating or at risk of being lost entirely," the European Union added, calling on Damascus to permit a new IAEA audit of the site (Westall/Dahl, Reuters, Sept. 16).
If the Middle Eastern government continued to bar IAEA officials from the area, the nuclear agency should "consider all available measures and authorities to pursue the verification assurances the international community seeks," the Associated Press quoted Davies as saying. The official was referring to the agency's right to conduct a special inspection of any site in the country with little advance warning (George Jahn, Associated Press/Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 17).
A "number of countries" were raising the possibility of the agency carrying out such an inspection, the U.S. ambassador said at a private meeting in August, according to Reuters. "We strongly support the (IAEA) secretariat's use of all tools at its disposal to verify Syria's compliance with its safeguards obligations," he said.
Syrian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohammed Badi Khattab countered that the Vienna-based organization had "ample proof" that the Dair Alzour facility was not involved in atomic work.
Repeating his country's assertion that uranium traces at the site had been left by the bombing, Khattab urged the U.N. nuclear watchdog to investigate Israel as the source of the particles.
Iranian envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh added: "We are looking forward to receiving the reports of swipe samples from the launcher of (the) missile in Israel ... before the source of contamination is cleaned up or destroyed by the Israeli regime" (Westall/Dahl, Reuters, Sept. 16).

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

IAEA not the place to debate Israel's nuclear status: US

The International Atomic Energy Agency is not the forum to discuss Israel's possible accession to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a senior US official said Wednesday after the IAEA asked the Jewish state to join. "Israel has fully cooperated with the IAEA," and "we believe there is really no basis for a debate at the IAEA," said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley, adding that the issue had been discussed at the NPT Review Conference in the spring, and that a conference on a nuclear-free Middle East was set for 2012.
The IAEA revealed on September 3 that UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano traveled to Jerusalem last month to invite Israel to join the NPT.
Amano, in the IAEA report, said he conveyed to top Israeli officials the IAEA general conference's "concern about the Israeli nuclear capabilities and invited Israel to consider acceding to the NPT and placing all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards."
Crowley said Washington believed such an IAEA step was unnecessary.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

IAEA picks Belgian as new chief inspector: diplomats

Image via WikipediaIAEA picks Belgian as new chief inspector: diplomats
Vienna (AFP) Sept 13, 2010 - UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano on Monday chose Belgian nuclear expert Herman Nackaerts as the agency's new chief inspector, replacing Olli Heinone who resigned last month, diplomats said. Amano officially notifed the 35-member board of the International Atomic Energy Agency of his choice for four new deputy director generals at the traditional September meeting which began in Vienna M ... more

Monday, September 13, 2010

UN atomic watchdog chief 'regrets' Iran's ban on inspectors

UN atomic watchdog chief 'regrets' Iran's ban on inspectors
Vienna (AFP) Sept 13, 2010 - UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano expressed "great regret" Monday at Iran's decision to bar key inspectors from the country, saying it hampered the agency's investigation of Tehran's nuclear programme. "I learned with great regret about Iran's decision to object to the designation of two inspectors who recently conducted inspections in Iran," Amano told the 35-member board of the Interna ... more

UN atomic watchdog examines Iran, Syria probes

UN atomic watchdog

examines Iran, Syria probes
Vienna (AFP) Sept 13, 2010 - The UN atomic watchdog convened Monday to discuss the latest developments in its long-running probes of disputed nuclear drives in Iran and Syria, with chief Yukiya Amano set to address the closed-door assembly. The 35-member board of the International Atomic Energy Agency faces a packed agenda at its traditional September meeting this week. The topics range from nuclear security and th ... more