UN Secretary-general To Visit Moscow Next Week

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is to make an official visit to Moscow from 15-16th May. The UN Information Centre in Moscow announced that Mr. Annan would meet State Duma (lower chamber of parliament) Speaker Gennady Seleznyov and then hold talks with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. Mr. Annan will also meet Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chairman of the Federation Council Yegor Stroyev. Moreover, he will also hold a meeting with UN workers in Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry (MID) has announced that Mr. Annan will discuss how to strengthen cooperation between the organisation and Russia in order to increase the UN's ability to ensure peace, stability and international cooperation. Moscow is counting on the fact that the forthcoming dialogue between the UN Secretary-General and the Russian leadership will further the central role of the UN in resolving international problems.