UN Secretary Annan meets on Iraq in Greece

United Nations Sec. Gen. Kofi Annan arrived Tuesday in Athens where he will hold high-level talks on a number of issues, including ongoing developments in Iraq, while attending the European Conference being held in that city, reported OPEC News Agency.

April 15, 2003

2 min read

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Apr. 15 -- United Nations Sec. Gen. Kofi Annan arrived Tuesday in Athens where he will hold high-level talks on a number of issues, including ongoing developments in Iraq, while attending the European Conference being held in that city, reported OPEC News Agency.

Annan will begin his series of meetings Wednesday and is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Russia, Spain and the UK, OPECNA said. On Thursday, Annan will speak with French President Jacques Chirac as well as meet with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the agency said.

Annan's special adviser Rafeeuddin Ahmed, meanwhile, will meet with US Department of State, Department of Defense, and National Security Council officials in Washington, DC, in a series of briefings, including meetings to develop a framework for UN involvement in postconflict Iraq, OPECNA reported.

"Ahmed hopes to get a clearer picture of the coalition's thinking on postconflict Iraq, as part of his ongoing work for the secretary general," OPECNA reported UN spokesman Hua Jiang as saying.

"Formally appointed special adviser last week, Ahmed has been assisting the UN system informally since February in thinking about possible involvement in a postwar Iraq," OPECNA said. "He will now act as the focal point in the organization for discussions on the various scenarios for such a role."