Kofi Annan arrives in South Africa

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The UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and his wife arrived in Cape Town, South Africa early on Monday morning. His arrival marked the start of a three-day visit to the country which will include talks with the country's president regarding the global body's reform. This is his the first offical visit to South Africa since 1997 when Annan assumed leadership of the UN. He is scheduled to meet Thabo Mbeki at the Tuynhuys office in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The official visit is part of ongoing consultations with member states regarding the comprehensive reform of the UN. President Mbeki is to meet with the UN Secretary-General to discuss the conviction that the multilateral system of global governance is the only hope of resolving the challenges which currently face the international community. Annan will also give a discourse on the challenges facing the multi-lateral system to the National Assembly.

Not all Annan's plans are hard work however. He is expected to pay Nelson Mandela a visit, as well as do some sight seeing by visiting the Hector Petersen memorial in Soweto. He also plans to spend time interacting with the local UN Staff and to hold discussions with the civil society representatives.

Many in the country consider it an honor to be associated with this great African who is playing such a critical role in the shaping of global affairs and who has such a large role in the attempts to create peace, stability and sustainable development. Kofi Annan visit will be short as he is scheduled to depart for Madagascar on Wednesday.