During six-nation trip in August, Annan to open UN anti-racism forum in Durban

Secretary-General Kofi Annan will open the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance next month in Durban, South Africa, during a trip that will take him to six countries in Europe and Africa, a United Nations spokesman announced today.

Mr. Annan will begin his tour on 19 August with an official visit to Norway, where he will meet with the Prime Minister, have an audience with the King, and hold discussions with other top-level officials, including the President, the Foreign Minister and the Minister of International Development.

On 25 August, the Secretary-General will travel to Salzburg to commence an official visit to Austria, where he will meet with the Federal Chancellor and the Foreign Minister. While in Austria, Mr. Annan will also hold discussions with officials from the UN Office in Vienna and give the keynote address at a seminar on the subject that had been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the theme for 2001 -- "Dialogue among Civilizations."

Mr. Annan will then head to Durban to open the World Conference on Racism on 31 August. From there, the Secretary-General will go on official visits to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. He will conclude the six-nation tour with a trip to Sweden, where he will deliver an address in Uppsala on 5 September.