Annan heading to The Hague for Cyprus meeting, launch of new war crimes tribunal

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is set to travel to The Hague this weekend for meetings with senior officials of the Netherlands, as well as the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on a plan that would enable a united Cyprus to join the European Union later this year.

The Secretary-General will meet on Monday with the Turkish Cypriot Leader, Rauf Denktash, and the Greek Cypriot Leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, who are expected to tell him whether they are prepared to agree on a plan for simultaneous referenda on 30 March. Mr. Annan is expected to hold a press conference in The Hague later that afternoon.

On Tuesday, Mr. Annan is expected to deliver a speech at the inauguration of the International Criminal Court, which will include the swearing in of its first 18 judges.

While in the Netherlands, the Secretary-General is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Foreign Minister Jaap G. de Hoop Scheffer.