Annan to speak at UNICEF gala during two-day trip to Los Angeles

The United Nations today released the itinerary of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's two-day trip to Los Angeles, which begins tomorrow and includes speaking at a gala event to mark the 50th anniversary of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassadors programme.

After arriving in the Southern California city, Mr. Annan will immediately attend a reception for the LA-based World Affairs Council, where he will make an address to its 50th anniversary dinner.

A spokesman for Mr. Annan told a press briefing today in New York that the Secretary-General will use the speech to the Council dinner to celebrate the great achievements of 20th century multilateralism under United States leadership, and to urge Americans "to help preserve and build on them for the 21st" century.

On Wednesday, Mr. Annan is scheduled to meet Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn and City Council President Alex Padilla before addressing an open meeting of the City Council.

Next he will attend a luncheon hosted by Diane Disney Miller and Heidi Kuhn, the founder and president of Roots of Peace, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that demines areas and then plants food crops in their stead.

Mr. Annan and his wife Nane will then visit an AIDS clinic run by the University of Southern California and Los Angeles County.

The Secretary-General's last formal engagement during his trip will occur on Wednesday night, when he will speak at the UNICEF gala, which will benefit the Audrey Hepburn Foundation, an NGO that helps schools around the world.

The Annans are scheduled to return to New York on Thursday.