By Fakir Hassen, IANS,
Pretoria : South Africa has reassured the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its support for the organisation’s objective of creating a better life for all, free from the threat of the use of nuclear weapons while still using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Abdul Samad Minty, the South African representative at the IAEA, said in a congratulatory letter to Yukiya Amano of Japan, who was elected IAEA director general: “I assure you of South Africa’s full support and cooperation during your tenure as director general, as there is a collective responsibility to preserve the agency’s impartiality and integrity and to further enhance its contribution to human wellbeing.”
Minty, an internationally recognised expert on nuclear issues, said the election process had been a long drawn out and hard fought campaign as he thanked the African Union and many others who had supported his government’s decision to nominate him for the poll.
“All this sincere support is highly appreciated and we will build thereon, and set aside our differences, to ensure that the agency continues its unique and independent contribution to humanity,” Minty said.
“As stated on previous occasions, my nomination was not initiated to oppose any other candidate, but was submitted because of our firm belief that given South Africa’s unique experience related to nuclear issues and in particular our ability and commitment to forge a consensus in a diverse society, we were convinced that we could have made an exceptional contribution to the management of the agency.”
Minty said there was a common interest to promote the importance of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and in this context to further enhance the peaceful application of nuclear energy.
“The IAEA is our most valuable asset in promoting this common interest, but we should be vigilant that in advancing the peaceful applications of nuclear energy this is not based on the premise of denying developing countries access to advanced technologies needed for their own development,” he added.