Rat race for sleeping horse?

 

 

The world is witnessing two most important elections these days. One is in the world's largest democracy, India. Th e other one is in Vienna to elect the head of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), one of the most powerful and responsible positions in the world as the present Director General Dr. Mohammed Elbaradei is about to leave offi ce in September, 2009. Th e agency which has served the world for over 50 years with the aim of promoting the peaceful use of civilian nuclear technology and keeping a check on the proliferation of nuclear weapons in wrong hands, has been in the forefront of criticism for many reasons – from ineffi ciency to losing credentials, to a long drawn election process and the veil of secrecy attached to it.

Th e world realises the fact that it is very urgent to stop Iran and Syria from going nuclear. If Iran succeeds in equipping itself with nuclear weapons, it will be big body blow to the agency's non-proliferation mission, and may have to face severe consequences the way it had to suff er in its endevaour to stop North Korea and Lybia in the past. Moreover, the agency is severely under funded and understaff ed. Th e incumbent Director General Dr. Elbaradei has repeatedly stressed the urgency to shore up the fi nances of IAEA if it has to work in the most eff ective manner. He had stated "the IAEA remains under-funded in many critical areas, a situation which, if it remains unaddressed, will lead to a steady erosion of our ability to perform key functions".

IAEA estimated its budget to increase to €336 million by 2010 to run its day-to-day operations as against €300 million in 2009. And this may go up to €341 million in 2011. Th us, the UN watchdog is asking for 11 per cent hike in 2010 and another 1.5 per cent in 2011 in their contributions from member countries which seems to be very diffi cult task for major contributors like the US, Japan or Germany as they are hit hard by recession. Amidst such urgencies, when it needs a strong and popular leader who has to tackle these problems in a shortest possible time, it is almost six weeks that the agency has not been able to confi rm its successor, not even a strong renowned contender. The age-old disagreements among board members as to which criteria matters the most to choose the candidate (primarily the person who will serve their interest) prevails this time too. While developed countries prefer a technocract with less political background and portfolio, less-developed members prefer a peacemaker. Nevertheless it is important for member countries to make sure that amidst the rumblings between the West and the East, the developed and developing nations over the control of IAEA, the prime essence or the objective for which IAEA was formed and is supposed to work for a nuclear free world does not get diluted. If that happens then the world might not remain for long to debate over a technocrat and a bureaucrat as to who is a better proposition to preside over the functioning of the IAEA. it's not just important to create a nuclear free but also to make sure that it happens without any discrimination or apartheid. Let Iran not be isolated.