Kofi Annan arrives in Astana

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Thursday, as part of a 12-day tour of Central Asia. This is his first official visit to Kazakhstan, a vast country of almost 17 million people. According to a UN press statement from Astana, the two-day visit envisages meetings with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, as well as senior government officials. During the course of the visit, it is expected that there will be discussions on matters of mutual interest, including the strengthening of international and regional security, the implementation of Millennium Development Goals - which were adopted by the heads of state at the Millennium Summit in New York in 2000 - and the enhancement and expansion of cooperation between the UN and Kazakhstan. The statement added that the secretary-general's wife, Nane Annan, who is accompanying him, would also be participating in his programme. This includes talks on means to contain HIV/AIDS, alleviation of poverty, access by all children to quality education, and the empowerment of women to bring about their equal participation in politics, state governance and entrepreneurial activities. Nane Annan's programme envisages her participation in the launching of an album of children's painting's and essays entitled "Children of Kazakhstan: about themselves and their rights", a meeting with women MPs, leaders of government entities and women NGO leaders, and familiarisation with the country's culture and history. She is was also expected to present a special UN Children's Fund award to the Kazakh president's wife, Sarah Nazarbayev.