by Xinhua writer Liu Gang

    VIENNA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano took office on Tuesday as Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), replacing Mohamed ElBaradei, who retired after 12 years at the helm.

    During ElBaradei's term, nuclear issues in Iran and the Korean Peninsula became international hot spots. Nuclear-related issues in Libya and Syria also attracted the international community's attention. And Amano begins his tenure with a host of challenges ahead.

    A SUCCESSFUL PREDECESSOR

    Facing a variety of "nuclear contradictions," ElBaradei adhered to the principle of impartial neutrality and balanced the interests of all parties in order to avoid conflict.

    In the process of dealing with these intractable conflicts, ElBaradei had to withstand pressures and often blame. In the Iranian nuclear issue, Israel and some other countries criticized him for favoring Iran, while Iran accused him of representing the interests of European countries and the United States.

    "Many Middle Eastern countries see me as an agent of European countries and the United States, while in the eyes of Western countries I am too biased toward Muslim countries," ElBaradei said.

    However, as IAEA chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate ElBaradei won universal praise from the international community because of his diligence, rigor, impartiality and neutrality, as well his insistence on his own principles and strict self-discipline.

    CHALLENGES FACING NEW IAEA CHIEF

    Unlike his predecessor's frankness, Amano is said to maintain a low profile.

    As the first IAEA chief from Asia, Amano assumes the post at a sensitive time. Iranian and the Korean Peninsula's nuclear-related issues are intensifying, indicating his four-year term will be full of tough tasks.

    As he was about to take office, Iran reacted strongly to a new resolution by the IAEA board of governors, which called for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program.

    Iran declared that it would not comply with the resolution and it would build 10 more uranium enrichment facilities.

    There is also growing trouble on the Korean Peninsula. In April, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) stopped cooperation with IAEA, requiring the overall withdrawal of agency inspectors, as the peninsula's nuclear issue slid again into deadlock.

    Amano faces the urgent task of reopening negotiations with the DPRK on denuclearization and making the IAEA play a greater role in the process.

    Under these circumstances, Amano has to perform his duties independently and impartially, coordinate the interests of all parties and avoid further deterioration of nuclear issues.

    In addition, as head of the IAEA, Amano also needs to balance the interests of developed and developing countries on non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

    Developed countries propose that, in order to prevent nuclear proliferation, nuclear fuel production and post-processing techniques should be controlled by a small number of countries.

    However, developing countries believe that this is depriving non-nuclear states of the right to fully possess nuclear technologies, which is contrary to the principle of equity.

    Amano said he would vigorously promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and further enhance the authority of the IAEA, adding that he would try his best to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

    The vast majority of IAEA members hope their new chief is able to act impartially in the implementation of nuclear non-proliferation and the promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

    Additionally, they say their chief should adhere to the principle of neutrality, independence and fairness and further enhance the agency's credibility and the capacity for action.