IAEA prepares for life without ElBaradei

Tajikistan News.Net
Saturday 31st October, 2009

The Egyptian-born ElBaradei, 67, has served as director general of the IAEA for twelve years.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei is preparing to step down.

The International Energy Agency's top official has been in the United States all week.

He is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly at 10:00am on Monday, which will be his final address as head of the IAEA.

Earlier this week, Dr. ElBaradei met with high-level U.S. officials in Washington including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He held additional talks with other officials from the White House, State Department, Department of Energy and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Egyptian-born ElBaradei, 67, has served as director general of the IAEA for twelve years. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Price, jointly with the IAEA, in 2005. He led the fight for weapons inspectors to complete their probe of Iraq prior to the March 2003 invasion. He was vindicated after the invasion when no weapons were found. Thereafter he came under pressure from the United States, which actively (and unsuccessfully) opposed his re-election.

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