UN Nuclear Agency Meets Tomorrow to Discuss ElBaradei's Future

The United Nations nuclear
watchdog's board of governors will convene an extraordinary
meeting tomorrow to discuss whether its Director General,
Mohammed ElBaradei, will be awarded a third term over U.S.
objections.
The 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency board meets
tomorrow in Vienna. China and the G-77, a group of 77 developing
countries, called the gathering to discuss ElBaradei's election
to another four year term. The U.S. opposes an additional term
for the 62-year-old Egyptian.
``We support the long-standing policy of two-terms for
director generals,'' said John Bolton, President George W. Bush's
nominee to the UN's ambassadorship, in testimony to the U.S.
Congress on April 11.
The last two IAEA director generals, both from Sweden,
served four and five terms each. Hans Blix led the Vienna-based
organization between 1981 and 1997. His predecessor, Sigvard
Eklund, served between 1961 and 1981. American director Sterling
Cole, the only other director general in the IAEA's history, led
the organization from its 1957 inception for four years.
The IAEA closed its search for a replacement to ElBaradei
last December without attracting any candidates. The former New
York University law professor remains the only choice among
diplomats. A vote to give ElBaradei a third term could take place
in June.

U.S. Objections

The U.S. has been critical of the IAEA under ElBaradei's
leadership. At the board's last meeting in March, the State
Department said the agency couldn't prove that Iran is using
atomic technology for peaceful means.
``The IAEA is still not able to provide assurances that Iran
is not pursuing clandestine activities at undeclared locations as
it has been doing for years,'' U.S. Ambassador Jackie Sanders
said March 2.
Iran, with the second highest level of oil reserves in the
world, is the focus of UN deliberations because of its nuclear
technology program. The U.S. wants the IAEA to refer Iran to the
UN Security Council, where it could face possible economic
sanctions. Several European countries asked Iran last year to
suspend uranium enrichment and to open up to tougher UN
inspections in exchange for talks that could lead to greater
trade.
The so-called Non-Aligned Movement of nations, representing
13 of the 35 seats on the IAEA's board, said it was satisfied
with the agency's progress in Iran. Any U.S. attempt to send Iran
to the Security Council requires a majority vote by the IAEA's
board.
``The agency's inspection activities appear to be unhindered
and are working s0moothly as a routine safeguard matter,''
Malaysian Ambassador Rajmah Hussain told the IAEA's board in
March. Malaysia heads the Non-Aligned Movement, which was founded
in the 1960s.
ElBaradei would need a majority vote of the board to win a
third term.