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The ICTP community is greatly saddened by the news today of the passing away of Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mr. Amano was born in Japan and led the IAEA since 2009, and was widely respected by his colleagues and counterparts for his professionalism and dedication. ICTP has lowered its UN flag in his honor. He was 72.
ICTP is overseen by the IAEA and hosts many training programs in nuclear management, science, and technology, in line with the IAEA's mission of 'Atoms for Peace and Development.' Mr. Amano visited ICTP first in 2011 as a lecturer in one of these training activities in nuclear energy management, bringing decades of experience in international relations to his lectures from his time with the Japanese Foreign Ministry and with the IAEA. He was then a guest of honor and speaker at ICTP's 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2014.
An advocate for non-proliferation and disarmament, Mr. Amano was proud of the work IAEA has done to promote the use and exploration of nuclear science for development purposes, such as medical physics, forensics science, and agricultural reseach. "I am very proud of our achievements, and grateful to Member States and Agency staff," he said in a recent communication. ICTP is proud to be part of that mission, and extends our deepest condolences to his family and all mourning his passing.
