Secretary-General Visits Paris, France

Secretary-General Kofi Annan traveled to Paris, France, on the fourth leg of his 12-day trip to Europe. Following a meeting with Jacques Chirac, President of France, Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced that the United Nations will send a team to Iraq to explore the possibility of elections before the transfer of sovereignty as long as the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) provides adequate security arrangements. ""I have concluded that the United Nations can play a constructive role in helping to break the current impasse,"" Mr. Annan said, pledging to send the requested mission ""once I am satisfied that the CPA will provide adequate security arrangements."" In Paris, he also met with Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, telling correspondents afterward that they had discussed Iraq, Afghanistan, African-Chinese cooperation and the President's upcoming visit to Africa.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan (right) and Mrs. Nane Annan leaving Paris for Brussels.