IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL DR. MOHAMED ELBARADEI TO GIVE PUBLIC LECTURE AT UNU ON 8 OCTOBER

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30 September 2004
PR/E32/04

IAEA DIRECTOR GENERAL DR. MOHAMED ELBARADEI TO GIVE PUBLIC LECTURE AT UNU ON 8 OCTOBER

International concerns about nuclear proliferation, particularly relating to recent developments in Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, are now in the headlines. There are many other critical nuclear-related issues, however, that also require continuous global oversight and support, such as those relating to nuclear power generation and waste disposal; nuclear safety and security; evolving nuclear applications in agriculture and human health; and nuclear knowledge management. In all of these areas, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is playing a vital and ever-increasing role.

On Friday, 8 October, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the IAEA, will deliver a public lecture at UN House in Tokyo. The topic of his lecture, which being organized by United Nations University (UNU), in cooperation with Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, will be "Non-Proliferation, Challenges and Opportunities". Dr. ElBaradei has been a senior member of the IAEA Secretariat since 1984, and in 1993 was appointed Assistant Director General for External Relations. He is currently in his second term as Director General of IAEA, having been initially appointed in 1997 and reappointed in 2001. In his role as Director General, he has actively promoted initiatives for international peace and security. His efforts have earned him a worldwide reputation, and many consider him to be a leading candidate for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize (which, coincidentally, will be announced by the Nobel Committee on 8 October).

Dr. ElBaradei was born in Egypt; he is a graduate of the University of Cairo and holds a doctoral degree in International Law from New York University (NYU). He began his career in the Egyptian diplomatic service in 1964, and in 1980 joined the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. The lecture will begin at 10:30 AM with opening remarks by UNU Rector Hans van Ginkel and Mr. Masao Takuma, Executive Vice Chairman of JAIF. A question and answer session will follow the lecture. Simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation will be provided. Those interested in attending should register in advance; a reply form is available online at http:// www.unu.edu/hq/rector_office/events2004/Elbaradei-reply.doc. For those unable to attend, the Dr. ElBaradei's lecture will be "webcast" live (and archived) at http://c3.unu.edu/ unuvideo/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.home&EventID=40. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend. Please contact the UNU Office of Communications if you would like to arrange a media interview.

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