As I just pledged, I will do all I can to fulfil the duties of the office objectively, impartially and efficiently, guided by our Statute and your directives.
Intergovernmental organizations are instruments for cooperation among States for the common good.
They are at their best when consensus prevails. They can be paralyzed when dissension dominates. For international organizations to enjoy the confidence and support of their members they have to be responsive to their needs, show concrete achievements, conduct their activities in a cost-effective manner and respect a process of equitable representation, transparency and open dialogue. The IAEA is an organization for the promotion of peace and sustainable development through international cooperation to utilize nuclear energy safely, whilst curbing nuclear weapons' proliferation and hopefully one day verifying their elimination. The Agency can justly be proud of its record, to which Dr. Blix, to whom I pay special tribute, has contributed in such an outstanding manner during his tenure.