Addis Ababa — The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and his wife Nane Annan are due to arrive in Addis Ababa today to attend the on-going African Development Forum 2000 (ADF), that has brought several African government high officials to find a lasting solution to the epidemic, HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Also attending the forum are presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana, Paul Kagamme of Rwanda, and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, Senegal's Prime Minister, Moustapha Niasse, and Malawis vice President along with Prime Minister Nagoum Yomassoum of Chad.

During his stay the Secretary-General will meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, UN country team, NGOs and other international organizations. He will then visit Asmara to discuss the ongoing United Nations peacekeeping activity in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

According to the programme scheduled for today, thousands of Ethiopian children and youth will make a call for commitment and sustained action to the heads of states and the UN Secretary General and heads of UN agencies attending the forum. A UNICEF report indicated that in launching agendas for youth, young voices aimed at taking action against AIDS will be held in and around the conference center.