Just wanted to give my congratulations to Mohamed ElBaradei and the International Atomic Energy Agency that he heads. They were co-winners of the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to stop nuclear proliferation.
"The job that the IAEA does every day is indespensable," German President Horst Köhler wrote in a letter to ElBaradei. "To ensure that nuclear energy is only used to peaceful ends ... demands courage and patience ... You have been a example of this in your years since taking over and have solidified and increased the reputation of the IAEA."
Since taking charge of the IAEA in 1997, ElBaradei has balanced the often differing demands of Europe, the United States and Arab countries in working towards a peacful solution to Iran and North Korea's nuclear plans. Despite some protest out of Washington, he was elected this year to a third fourth-year term as IAEA Director General, noted Deutsche Welle. While some in Washington objected to the Egyptian's re-election as IAEA chief, ElBaradei's honorable predecessor Hans Blix noted that the US administration couldn't find anyone more qualified to replace him.
The German broadcaster quoted ElBaradei: "The award sends a very strong message: 'Keep doing what you are doing - be impartial, act with integrity' and that is what we intend to do," he said in a statement. "The advantage of having this recognition today, it will strengthen my resolve."
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