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In Nairobi, Secretary-General discusses regional issues with Kenya's President

In Nairobi, Secretary-General discusses regional issues with Kenya's President

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi in Nairobi today to discuss a wide range of regional issues, including conflicts in various parts of Africa and the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the continent.

Speaking to reporters after their meeting, the Secretary-General said that their 45-minute discussion had covered a range of regional topics, including the situations in the Sudan and Somalia, the conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, and the relationship between Kenya and the UN.

Drawing attention to the subject of HIV/AIDS, Mr. Annan stressed "the need for all of us to join the fight against this epidemic from top to bottom, requiring complete social mobilization in all countries."

"Yes, the epidemic has hit Africa the hardest, but it is a global problem and we really need to mobilize the will and the resources to tackle it: prevention, education, cure and treatment," the Secretary-General added.

Mr. Annan then attended a meeting of the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), which brings together heads of UN agencies, funds and programmes. The meeting, which concluded the ACC's two-day semi-annual session, focused on sustainable development in Africa.