Kofi Annan to Open UN House in Bishkek

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife will participate in the inauguration ceremony of the United Nations House in Bishkek, Kirghizia, on October 21st, spokesperson for the UN office in Bishkek Olga Grebennikova said.

According to her, the UN Secretary-General will arrive in Kirghizia as part of his trip of Central Asia, China and Mongolia. The visit's aim is to sign a document proclaiming Central Asia a nuclear-free zone.

Kofi Annan is expected to hold talks with Kirghiz President Askar Akayev, to meet Kirghiz parliamentarians and to deliver a lecture for UN officials, accredited to Kirghizia, and volunteers of this organisation.

The UN office in Kirghizia and the Meerim charitable foundation, headed by Kirghiz first lady Mairam Akayeva, have prepared a special programme for the UN Secretary-General's wife Nane Annan, Grebennikova said.

Nane Annan is to meet female officials of legislative, executive and judicial bodies, journalism and financial sphere, and to visit the centre of rehabilitation and adaptation of homeless children, built in Bishkek as part of the UN development programme in Kirghizia.

Kofi and Nane Annan are to spend some 24 hours in Kirghizia. After that, they will head for Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.