Annan to visit Dublin next week

UN secretary-general Kofi Annan is due to visit Dublin next week for a visit which will discuss EU and UN co-operation.

Mr Annan will meet the Taoiseach and President Mary McAleese during his stay and will also have a working dinner with the new Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern.

The main purpose of his visit is an address to the Forum on Europe at Dublin Castle in which Mr Annan will discuss EU-UN co-operation on crisis management.

The UN secretary-general will also visit McKee Barracks in Dublin to meet Irish soldiers and veterans who have served on UN peacekeeping missions overseas.