Activities of Secretary-General in the Netherlands, 29-30 January

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in The Hague from Geneva on Sunday evening, 29 January.

He began his visit in The Hague with a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.  They discussed United Nations reform, as well as Afghanistan and the Middle East, and afterwards they held a joint press encounter.

The Secretary-General was asked about Afghanistan, and he encouraged Dutch participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) force in the southern part of that country, pointing to the need for success in international efforts there.  “No one can afford to see a destabilized Afghanistan”, he said.

While in The Hague, he also addressed and took questions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s global management meeting, which brought together resident representatives from around the world.

Before leaving the city, he also met on Monday morning with Mayor Wim Deetman of The Hague.