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| Mohamed ElBaradei محمد البرادعي | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 4th Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency | |
| In office December 1, 1997 – present | |
| Preceded by | Hans Blix |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1942-06-17) June 17, 1942 (age 82) Cairo, Egypt |
| Alma mater | University of Cairo New York University School of Law |
Dr. Mohamed Mostafa El-Baradei (Template:Lang-ar, transliteration: Template:ArabDIN) (born June 17, 1942, in Cairo, Egypt) is the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an inter-governmental organization under the auspices of the United Nations. ElBaradei, who prefers the Latin writing of his name to be spelled ElBaradei rather than hyphenated, and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
Family
ElBaradei was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. Mostafa ElBaradei, his attorney father who headed the Egyptian Bar Association, often found himself at odds with the dictatorial regime of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. ElBaradei's father was also a supporter of democratic rights in Egypt, supporting a free press and a legal system that was independent. ElBaradei followed in his father's footsteps and earned his law degree at the University of Cairo in 1962. ElBaradei was one of four children.
ElBaradei is married to Aida Elkachef, an early childhood teacher. They have a daughter, Laila, a lawyer who lives in London with her husband, Neil Pizey, an investment banker. Mohamed and Aida also have a son, Mostafa, a studio director with a television network, both of whom live and work in London, England.
Early career
ElBaradei earned a Bachelor's degree in law from the University of Cairo in 1962, followed by a DEA degree in International Law at the Graduate Institute of International Studies HEI in Geneva and a Ph. D in International Law at the New York University School of Law in 1974. His diplomatic career began in 1964 in the Egyptian Ministry of External affairs, where he served in the Permanent Missions of Egypt to the United Nations in New York and in Geneva, in charge of political, legal, and arms control issues. From 1974 to 1978, he was a special assistant to the Egyptian Foreign Minister. In 1980, he became a senior fellow in charge of the international law program at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. From 1981 to 1987, he was also an Adjunct Professor of International Law at New York University School of Law.
In 1984, ElBaradei became a senior staff member of the IAEA Secretariat, serving as the Agency's legal adviser (1984 to 1993) and Assistant Director General for External Relations (1993 to 1997). ElBaradei is also a member of the International Law Association and the American Society of International Law.
Public career as IAEA Director General
ElBaradei was appointed Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 1997, succeeding Hans Blix of Sweden. He has been appointed to this position for three terms, with the last slated to conclude in November 2009. Like Blix, Elbaradei's tenure has been marked by his role in high profile diplomatic issues associated with anti-proliferation efforts and the inspection regime of his agency, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the tension over the nuclear development program of Iran.
First term as director general
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Second term as director general
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ElBaradei described the U.S. invasion of Iraq as "a glaring example of how, in many cases, the use of force exacerbates the problem rather than solving it." ElBaradei further said "we learned from Iraq that an inspection takes time, that we should be patient, that an inspection can, in fact, work," and that he had "been validated" in concluding that Saddam Hussein had not revived his nuclear weapons program.
In a 2004 op-ed piece on the dangers of nuclear proliferation, in the New York Times (February 12, 2004), ElBaradei stated "We must abandon the unworkable notion that it is morally reprehensible for some countries to pursue weapons of mass destruction, yet morally acceptable for others to rely on them for security - and indeed to continue to refine their capacities and postulate plans for their use." He went on to say "If the world does not change course, we risk self-destruction."
ElBaradei has said the changing landscape of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmanent may be defined by the emergence of an extensive black market in nuclear material and equipment, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and sensitive nuclear technology, and the stagnation in nuclear disarmament. To combat proliferation, ElBaradei has suggested keeping nuclear and radiological material out of the hands of extremist groups, tightening control over the operations for producing the nuclear material that could be used in weapons, and accelerating disarmanent efforts.
Third and final term as director general
Re-election for third term
China has supported ElBaradei doing "substantial fruitful work, which has maintained the agency's role and credit in international non-proliferation and promoted the development of peaceful use of nuclear energy. His work has been universally recognized in the international community. China appreciates Mr. El Baradei's work and supports his reelection as the agency's director-general." France, Germany, and some developing countries, have made clear their support for ElBaeadei as well. Russia issued a strong statement in favor of re-electing him as soon as possible. China also praised his leadership and objectivity.
The United States initially voiced opposition to his election to a third four-year term in 2005. ElBaradei disputed the US rationale for the 2003 invasion of Iraq from the time of the 2002 Iraq disarmament crisis, when he, along with Hans Blix, led a team of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq. ElBaradei told the UN Security Council in March 2003 that documents purporting to show that Iraq had tried to acquire uranium from Niger were not authentic. The US failed to win enough support from other countries to oust ElBaradei.
In a May 2005 interview with the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Lawrence Wilkerson, the chief of staff to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, charged former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton with an underhanded campaign to unseat ElBaradei. “Mr. Bolton overstepped his bounds in his moves and gyrations to try to keep from being reappointed as head,” Wilkerson said. The Washington Post reported in December 2004 that the Bush administration had intercepted dozens of ElBaradei’s phone calls with Iranian diplomats and was scrutinizing them for evidence they could use to force him out. IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozdecky said the agency worked on "the assumption that one or more entities may be listening to our conversations". "It's not how we would prefer to work, but it is the reality. At the end of the day, we have nothing to hide," he said. Iran responded to the Washington Post reports by accusing the US of violating international law in intercepting the communications. On 9 June 2005, after a meeting between US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ElBaradei, the US dropped its objections. The U.S. was the only country to oppose ElBaradei's reappointment, and ElBaradei was unanimously re-appointed by the IAEA Board on 13 June 2005.
Role in addressing the nuclear program of Iran
Main article: Nuclear program of IranIAEA and the United Nations Security Council
On May 23, 2007, the IAEA issued a report, that Iran continued uranium enrichment contrary to demands of the Security Council. The IAEA added that the UN nuclear agency's ability to monitor nuclear activities in Iran had declined due to lack of access to sites.
The International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors and UN Security Council have commended the ElBaradei for "professional and impartial efforts" to resolve all outstanding issues with Iran. The Non-Aligned Movement has also reiterated "its full confidence in the impartiality and professionalism of the Secretariat of the IAEA."
Reactions to Elbaradei's role in addressing the nuclear program of Iran
Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has indirectly criticized ElBaradei for, in her perception, "muddying the message" to Iran and has also said "the IAEA is not in the business of diplomacy. The IAEA is a technical agency that has a board of governors of which the United States is a member." In response to Rice's comments, a senior official from the agency said "the IAEA is only doing now what the U.N. Security Council asked us to do." ElBaradei notes that Rice said "from the U.S. perspective, I served with distinction", and Rice has further said she appreciated his "stewardship of the nonproliferation regime". Former Prime Minister and current President of Israel Shimon Peres has said, "there are holes in the (IAEA) apparatus for deterring a culture of nuclear weapons, as in the case with Iran, but the agency certainly has done much in the prevention of nuclear weapons from reaching dangerous hands." Former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz has called for ElBaradei to be impeached.
According to a Wall Street Journal editorial by Michael Rubin and Daniel Pletka, ElBaradei's first-term as director of the IAEA saw Iran's construction of "covert enrichment facilities" continue undetected. Pletka and Rubin cite a 2007 U.S National Intelligence Estimate which accused Iran of engaging in covert-nuclear weapon design until 2003. Caroline Glick of The Jerusalem Post also accused Elbaradei of using his position at the IAEA "to facilitate proliferation of nuclear energy for military purposes."
In response to these criticisms, Elbaradei noted that the Intelligence Estimate tallied with the Agency's consistent statement over the last few years. He says, "Although Iran still needed to clarify some important aspects of its past and present nuclear activities, the Agency had no concrete evidence of an ongoing nuclear weapons program or undeclared nuclear facilities in Iran."
ElBaradei expressed regret over the lack of progress in clarifying Secretariast questions "relevant to possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programs." Elbaradei also accused Iran of not providing necessary access to "documents and individuals" as requested by the Agency."
France has called for the European Union and United Nation to pass tougher sanctions on Iran for its lack of cooperation with in regards to nuclear program. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, has warned the potential dangers of a nuclear Iran. He states, "We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war."
In response to Kouchner, Elbaredei characterized talk of attacking Iran as "hype", and dismissed the notion of a possible attack on Iran. He refers to the war in Iraq, where "70,000 innocent civilians have lost their lives on the suspicion that a country has nuclear weapons." He further added "I do not believe at this stage that we are facing a clear and present danger that requires we go beyond diplomacy."
Interviews by the media
In an interview with CNN in May 2007, Dr ElBaradei gave one of his sternest warnings against using military action against Iran, a state signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Referring to "the extreme people who have extreme views" he said, "you do not want to give additional argument to some of the 'new crazies' who want to say let us go and bomb Iran."
New York Times columnist Roger Cohen interviewed Elbaradei in April 2009. Elbaradei is quoted as saying, “Israel would be utterly crazy to attack Iran." He considers an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities would "turn the region into a ball of fire and put Iran on a crash course for nuclear weapons with the support of the whole Muslim world.” Elbaradei believes the nuclear non-proliferation regime has "lost its legitimacy in the eyes of Arab public opinion because of the perceived double-standard" in relation to Israel's suspected-nuclear weapons program.
In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, ElBaradei said "I want to get people away from the idea that Iran will be a threat from tomorrow, and that we are faced right now with the issue of whether Iran should be bombed or allowed to have the bomb. We are not at all in that situation. Iraq is a glaring example of how, in many cases, the use of force exacerbates the problem rather than solving it."
Comments on no fourth term
In 2008, ElBaradei said he would not be seeking a fourth term as director general. ElBaradei said he was "not available for a further term" in office in an IAEA document. In its first five rounds of voting, the IAEA Board of Governors split on a decision of who should next fill the role of Director General. ElBaradei said, "I just hope that the agency has a candidate acceptable to all...north, south, east, west because that is what is needed."
Awards
During his tenure as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, ElBaradei has been recognized with many awards for his efforts to ensure that nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes.
2005 Nobel Peace Prize
On October 7, 2005, ElBaradei and the IAEA itself were announced as joint recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize for their "efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy ,for peaceful purposes, is used in the safest possible way". ElBaradei donated all his winnings to building orphanages in his home city of Cairo. The IAEA's winnings are being spent on training scientists from developing countries to use nuclear techniques in combating cancer and malnutrition. ElBaradei is the fourth ethnic Egyptian to receive the Nobel Prize, following Ahmed Zewail (1999 in Chemistry), Anwar Sadat (1978 in Peace) and Naguib Mahfouz (1988 in Literature).
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was delighted that the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to the UN nuclear watchdog and its head ElBaradei. "The secretary-general congratulates him and the entire staff of the agency, past and present, on their contributions to global peace," a spokesman for Annan said.
Other awards and recognition
ElBaradei has received many awards for his work as director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Some of these awards include:
- The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award (2006)
- The James Park Morton Interfaith Award
- The Golden Plate award from the American Academy of Achievement
- The Jit Trainor award from Georgetown University for distinction in the conduct of diplomacy
- The Human Security award from the Muslim Public Affairs Council
- The Prix de la Fondation award from the Crans Montana Forum
- The El Athir award, Algeria's highest national distinction
- The Golden Dove of Peace prize from the President of Italy
- Honorary Patron of Trinity's University Philosophical Society (2006), following in the foot steps of previous Nobel Peace Prize Winners Desmond Tutu and John Hume
- Greatest Nile Collar, the highest Egyptian civilian decoration, awarded by the Government of Egypt
- Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Peaceful Worldwide Use of Nuclear Technology, awarded by The World Nuclear Association in September 2007
- The Mostar 2007 international peace award of the Mostar Center for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation
- The 2008 "Peacebuilding Award" of the EastWest Institute
- The International Seville NODO Prize for Peace, Security and Inter-Cultural Dialogue
- The 2008 India Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development
- The 2009 Delta Prize for Global Understanding, sponsored by the University of Georgia and Delta Airlines
ElBaradei has also received honorary doctoral degrees from: New York University; the University of Maryland; the American University in Cairo; the Free Mediterranean University (LUM) in Bari, Italy; Soka University of Japan; Tsinghua University of Beijing; the Polytechnic University of Bucharest; the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid; Konkuk University in Seoul; the University of Florence; the University of Buenos Aires; the National University of Cuyo in Argentina; Amherst College and Cairo University.
References
- ^ Notable Biographies: Mohamed ElBaradei
- Academy of Achievement: Mohamed ElBaradei (Biography)
- Mohamed ElBaradei The Nobel Peace Prize 2005 (Biography)
- IAEA Board Reappoints Director General Mohamed ElBaradei
- IAEA: IAEA Board Meeting on Director General Appointment
- ^ Boyle, Jon (October 22, 2007). "Iran seen to need 3-8 yrs to produce bomb". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- CNN: Iraq war wasn't justified, U.N. weapons experts say
- Washington Post: U.N. Nuclear Agency Chief Urges Iran to Suspend Activities
- ElBaradei, Mohamed (2004-12-02). "Saving Ourselves from Self Destruction". IAEA. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- The Nobel Foundation: Mohamed ElBaradei, The Nobel Peace Prize 2005
- [http://www.china-botschaft.de/det/fyrth/t175367.htm Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao's Press Conference on 16 December 2004]
- ^ Arms Control Today: ElBaradei Set to Win Third Term
- ^ Voice of America: IAEA Postpones Decision on ElBaradei's Third Term
- BBC: ElBaradei 'has nothing to hide'
- "US agrees to back UN nuclear head". BBC News. 9 June 2005. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/8/19C76894-2A3A-49D7-96A5-02039F66FD20.html
- International Atomic Energy Agency: Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran (2006-14)
- International Atomic Energy Agency: UN Security Council: Resolution 1747 (2007)
- XinhuaNet: Non-aligned nations voice support deal between IAEA, Iran
- Rice: ElBaradei "muddying the message" and Agency "not in the business of diplomacy"
- Arms Control Association: "Tackling the Nuclear Dilemma: An Interview With IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei"
- U.S. State Department: Remarks With International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei After Meeting
- Jerusalem Post: IAEA, ElBaradei share Nobel Peace Prize
- "Israel minister: Sack ElBaradei". BBC News. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071203_release.pdf Page 1 Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities
- http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1188197169750&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShow Full Our World: ElBaradei's nuclear policy
- ElBaradei, Mohamed. "Statement by IAEA Director General on New U.S. Intelligence Estimate on Iran" (in 4 December 2007). IAEA Press Releases. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ElBaradei, Mohamed (2 June 2008). "Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors". IAEA Statements of the Director General. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/904447.html Iran says French foreign minister stoking crisis with talk of war
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6998118.stm New France gets tough with Iran
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6997935.stm France warning of war with Iran
- IAEA boss warns against Iran attack UK Press Google, accessed September 22, 2007.
- ElBaradei concerned over Iran row, BBC News, Sep. 17, 2007
- "Transcript of Interview with IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei". CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/opinion/13iht-edcohen.html?ref=opinion Realpolitik for Iran
- Reuters: Israel seen undermining disarmament ElBaradei
- International Herald Tribune: IAEA chief ElBaradei will not seek fourth term
- Voice of America: IAEA Chief ElBaradei Will Not Seek Another Term
- Reuters: 5-Vote impasse reopens race to head UN atom watchdog
- Peoples Daily: Int'l community hails IAEA, ElBaradei's winning of Nobel Peace Prize
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award Laureates since 1982
- ^ Yale University: ElBaradei Will Speak at Yale
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: ElBaradei Remarks at Georgetown University
- MPAC: Dr. Mohamed Elbaradei to be Presented with MPAC's Human Security Award
- Arrivée de Graça Machel au Comité d’attribution du Prix Mo Ibrahim
- American Nuclear Society: 2008 American Nuclear Society National Student Conference
- ^ Amherst: Amherst College To Honor Atomic Agency Head, Princeton President and Five Others at Commencement May 25
- University Philosophical Society: Honorary Patrons
- Indian Express: ElBaradei chosen for Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
- University of Georgia: 2009 Delta Prize Recipient
- IAEA: Biography of Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei
External links
- IAEA official Website biography
- Full transcript of BBC's interview with Dr ElBaradei - May 2007 CASMII
- Washington intercepts ElBaradei phone calls for information to displace him
- IAEA - Director General's Corner
- Nobel Peace Prize Lecture video and transcript
- The Nobel Lecture The Nobel Lecture given by The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2005, Mohamed ElBaradei
- The 2005 Nobel Peace Prize - A Photoessay by Scott London
- http://www.law.nyu.edu/pubs/magazine/autumn2006/documents/ElBaradei.pdf
- New York Times: An Indispensable Irritant to Iran and Its Foes, 17 Sept 2007. Article that discusses the controversial role ElBaradei plays between a possibly nuclear Iran and a suspicious West.
