Annan praises UN nuclear watchdog agency on winning Nobel Peace prize

Hailing their “vital mission” in stemming the proliferation of nuclear weapons, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today lauded the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General, Mohamed ElBaradei, on winning the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, the latest in a long series of UN laureates.

“The Prize is a welcome reminder of the acute need to make progress on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament at a time when weapons of mass destruction continue to pose a grave danger to us all,” Mr. Annan said in a statement issued by his spokesman.

“Since 1957, the IAEA has worked tirelessly and expertly to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to promote the safe and peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Dr. ElBaradei has guided this vital mission with great skill since 1997,” the statement added.

Mr. Annan noted with pleasure that the IAEA thus joined the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Peacekeeping, former UN Undersecretary-General Ralph Bunche, former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and the UN itself as Nobel Peace Prize laureates.