The Embassy is pleased to announce that the appointment of Ambassador Yukiya Amano as the new IAEA Director General was officially approved at the IAEA General Conference on September 14.  The Embassy expects that Ambassador Amano will contribute to promote the nuclear nonproliferation and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in cooperation with all member states.  The Government of Japan is also determined to further support the activities of IAEA.

Ambassador Amano, who until recently served as the Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, has extensive experience in disarmament, non-proliferation and nuclear energy policy.  His term as Director General will begin on December 1, 2009.

2. Foreign Minister’s Commendations conferred on the Tikotin Museum

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan decided to bestow a Certificate of Foreign Minister’s Commendations for this year upon the Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art in Haifa in recognition of their longstanding contribution to the promotion of Japanese arts. 

The Tikotin Museum will celebrate its 50^th anniversary next year