Annan begins African tour

JOHANNESBURG – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan began a visit to South Africa yesterday, the first stop in a farewell African tour that will take him to Madagascar, Congo Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Annan, who steps down at the end of this year after completing two five-year terms, was welcomed at the airport in Cape Town by Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour. “I’m happy to be be here,” said Annan, who was accompanied by his wife Nane.The secretary general is making his first official visit to South Africa since becoming the world’s top diplomat in 1997, just three years after the end of apartheid.The official programme of the three-day visit begins today, said UN spokesman Sudeshan Reddy.Annan is to make an address to parliament in Cape Town during which he is to touch on “the challenges facing the multilateral system, including the United Nations,” the South African foreign ministry said.From South Africa, Annan travels to Madagascar for talks with President Marc Ravalomanana.He will then go to Congo Republic for talks in Brazzaville with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who became the new chairman of the 53-nation African Union in January, taking over from Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.Annan wraps up his visit in the Democratic Republic of Congo, meeting with President Joseph Kabila and delivering an address to the Congolese people who will be holding watershed elections on June 18.- Nampa-AFP”I’m happy to be be here,” said Annan, who was accompanied by his wife Nane.The secretary general is making his first official visit to South Africa since becoming the world’s top diplomat in 1997, just three years after the end of apartheid.The official programme of the three-day visit begins today, said UN spokesman Sudeshan Reddy.Annan is to make an address to parliament in Cape Town during which he is to touch on “the challenges facing the multilateral system, including the United Nations,” the South African foreign ministry said.From South Africa, Annan travels to Madagascar for talks with President Marc Ravalomanana.He will then go to Congo Republic for talks in Brazzaville with President Denis Sassou-Nguesso, who became the new chairman of the 53-nation African Union in January, taking over from Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.Annan wraps up his visit in the Democratic Republic of Congo, meeting with President Joseph Kabila and delivering an address to the Congolese people who will be holding watershed elections on June 18.- Nampa-AFP