UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday approved the request of Iqbal Riza, chief of his executive office, to retire after nearly 30 years of service to the United Nations.

Iqbal Riza (www.un.org/file)

    In a statement released in New York, Annan said "it is with very mixed emotions that I have accepted the long-standing request" of Riza, 70, to retire on Jan. 15.

    Riza, a former Pakistani diplomat, joined the United Nations in1978 and worked in Iran, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Bosnia. He held senior posts in the UN's peacekeeping and political affairs departments before being appointed in 1997 Annan's cabinet chief, with the rank of under-secretary-general

    Praising Riza for his "unflinching dedication to the ideals and principles" of the world body, Annan said the outgoing aide "has always provided me with wise and trusted counsel." Enditem