Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei has accepted appointment to a third term as IAEA Director General, following his reappointment by the Agency′s Board of Governors meeting in Vienna this week. Dr. ElBaradei was appointed by acclamation to head the Agency for another four years until November 2009.

At a press briefing in Vienna today, Dr. ElBaradei said he would continue to hold high impartiality and independence -- core principals and values of international civil service.

"In the next four years we have tremendous challenges. We have major issues facing global security; we have major issues facing development. These two issues cut across all our activities. My colleagues and I are committed to do our very best to protect ourselves against the dissemination of nuclear weapons; and against poverty. We will continue to work with the members of the international community to see a world free from nuclear weapons."

Dr. ElBaradei said he was humbled by the unanimous support and confidence he had received by all members of the Agency. The appointment will be submitted for approval at the IAEA General Conference, which opens 26 September 2005 in Vienna. Dr. ElBaradei is the IAEA′s fourth Director General since 1957. He was first appointed to the office effective December 1997, and reappointed to a second term in 2001. He follows Hans Blix, IAEA Director General from 1981 to 1997; Sigvard Eklund, IAEA Director General from 1961 to 1981; and Sterling Cole, IAEA Director General from 1957 to 1961.