03 July 2009

GPPi Visiting Fellow interviewed by Deutsche Welle on ElBaradei's legacy

On 2 July 2009, GPPi Visiting Fellow and Fellow at Georgetown University Philipp Bleek was featured in a news interview in the International Relations section of the German news program Deutsche Welle. As the election for the next Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) draws closer, this interview looks back at some of the achievements and challenges faced by the IAEA and its outgoing Director General Mohamed ElBaradei.

Throughout his tenure as at the IAEA, ElBaradei steered his organization through some of the most volatile security environments faced by the international community following the Cold War. His time at the IAEA saw the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the United States as well as Europe and other parts of the world, the war in Iraq, North Korea’s nuclear brinkmanship, Iran’s march towards nuclear capability, and increasing concerns over nuclear terrorism, to name a few. ElBaradei opposition to the war in Iraq and his leadership in keeping the Agency a neutral player in the North Korean and Iranian nuclear crisis and thus, in line with its technical mandate, earned him and the IAEA the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.

According to Bleek, ElBaradei’s greatest achievements are raising the profile of the IAEA, as well as securing better funding and increasing its prominence in preventing nuclear-related terrorism. On the other hand, his biggest failure, Bleek added, was his inability to transcend politics on the issues that are most universally regarded as some of the most pressing on the international security agenda. Looking back at the post ElBaradei has held for more than twelve years, Bleek said all in all, “I would give him a good grade.”       

To read this interview please click here

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