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UN envoy for war-affected children holds talks in Moscow

UN envoy for war-affected children holds talks in Moscow

Olara Otunnu
The United Nations' chief advocate for war-affected children held talks with senior government officials in Moscow today, as part of his week-long mission to the Russian Federation, including the Northern Caucasus.

Olara Otunnu, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Children and Armed conflict, held extensive discussions with officials from the Russian Federation, including its Foreign Ministry, the Department of Law and Order of its Ministry of Interior, and other areas relevant to the situation in Chechnya.

Tomorrow, Mr. Otunnu leaves for a four-day visit to the Northern Caucasus, where he will meet with colleagues from UN agencies as well as authorities of the Republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia. Meetings with representatives of civil society have also been scheduled.

Also tomorrow, the Special Representative plans to start a programme of visits to camps for internally displaced people, to schools, to hospitals and to trauma centres in the three Republics, in order to focus attention on the situation of children affected by the conflict in Chechnya.