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Annan to seek help of business leaders at Davos in promoting equitable globalization

Annan to seek help of business leaders at Davos in promoting equitable globalization

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will seek to recruit business leaders at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week in what he sees as the crucial task of making globalization work for the world's people.

Five years ago in Davos, Mr. Annan launched a Global Compact aimed at involving the private sector in upgrading environmental, labour and human rights conditions. According to UN officials, during his keynote address to the Forum on 20 January, the Secretary-General will laud progress achieved since then while warning that the current critical juncture in international affairs requires continued efforts to build an open, rules-based global economy that works for the world's people. Towards that end, he will enlist the intensified help of the business community.

The Davos speech will come on the second day of a 12-day, seven-city, European trip set to begin on Monday evening, when Mr. Annan will arrive in Baden-Baden, Germany, a UN spokesman announced today. He will receive the German Media Prize on Wednesday and hold talks with the country's Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer.

After the World Economic Forum, Mr. Annan will travel to Stockholm, where on 25 January, he will meet the Prime Minister. The following day he will address the opening of the Stockholm International Forum 2004 - Preventing Genocide: Threats and Responsibilities.

In Paris the following day, the Secretary-General is scheduled to attend a working luncheon hosted by French President Jacques Chirac and to address a Global Compact meeting.

On 28 January, Mr. Annan will be in Brussels for meetings with the NATO Secretary-General, the European Union College of Commissioners, the European Commission President and the Irish European Union Presidency. The following day, he will receive the Sakharov Prize at a European Parliament ceremony. After that he has meetings scheduled with top Belgian officials.

Still in Belgium that Friday, the Secretary-General will be receiving an honorary doctorate awarded to him last year by the University of Gent.

On his final stop, in Geneva, Mr. Annan has meetings scheduled with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Chirac. He will also meet - separately and later jointly - with President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Paul Biya of Cameroon.