Next round of UN-Iraq talks set for 4-5 July in Vienna

The next round of talks between Secretary-General Kofi Annan and senior representatives of the Government of Iraq will be held on 4 and 5 July at the United Nations offices in Vienna, a spokesman for the world body announced today.

The Iraqi delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Naji Sabri, spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York. Mr. Sabri also attended the previous rounds, which were held in New York on 7 March and from 1 to 3 May.

Asked who else would be attending on the UN side, the spokesman said that while the delegation had not yet been finalized, Hans Blix, the Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), were both expected to participate.