VIENNA (AFP) – The UN atomic watchdog's incoming chief Yukiya Amano promised Friday to do his “utmost” to resolve a long-running nuclear standoff with Iran after governors formally gave their nod of approval to his appointment.

As the organization in charge of nuclear safeguards, the task of the International Atomic Energy Agency's director general was to make sure that member countries stuck to their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Amano told journalists.
“What is expected of the director general and the agency is to implement these safeguards agreements in a professional and impartial manner. And I will do my utmost” to do so, he said.
“I would like to reflect the interests of all the regions, all the countries and all the groups,” the Japanese diplomat said.
Asked what his priorities as agency head would be, Amano said there was no number one priority, but that technical cooperation, peaceful use of nuclear technology, non-proliferation, the assurance of nuclear fuel were all key issues facing the IAEA.
The agency's current chief, Egyptian-born Mohamed ElBaradei, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for his work at the IAEA, is stepping down at the end of November after 12 years in office.
Photo:
Incoming director general of the IAEA, Japan's Yukiya Amano, is seen after his election in Vienna, Austria Thursday, July 2, 2009. The present head, Mohamed ElBaradei, is scheduled to end his term in November. (AP/Hans Punz)-