Annan set to visit five European nations later this month

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is set to travel later this month to five European nations for meetings with senior officials and other activities, a UN spokesman announced today.

The Secretary-General is scheduled to leave on 17 November for Sarajevo to pay an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, spokesman Fred Eckhard said. The following day, Mr. Annan will visit Kosovo, before travelling on 19 November to Belgrade to meet with senior officials in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The Secretary-General will wrap up his Balkans trip by paying an official visit to Croatia on 20 November.

From the Balkans, the Secretary-General is slated to travel on 21 November to the Netherlands, where he will receive an honorary doctorate from Tilburg University.

Mr. Annan will conclude his trip to Europe by paying an official visit to France starting on 24 November before returning to New York on 26 November.