UN Under-Secretary-General to visit Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus

Moscow, 25 January 2004 - From 25-29 January, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Jan Egeland, will undertake an official visit to the Russian Federation, including the northern Caucasus.
In the northern Caucasus, Mr. Egeland will visit camps and accommodation centres for displaced persons and will meet the presidents of Chechnya and Ingushetia. In Moscow, the Under-Secretary-General will meet the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, Ms. Galina Karelova, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Igor Ivanov, the Minister of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, Mr. Sergei Shoigu, and other officials.

Mr. Egeland will also discuss with the Russian government the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster.From Moscow, the Under-Secretary-General will visit the Ukraine and Belarus, countries that also suffer the effects of the Chernobyl disaster.

In his capacity as the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Egeland is the principal adviser to the Secretary-General on humanitarian issues and is responsible for coordination of relief efforts in response to natural and man-made disasters.

For further information please contact the United Nations' designated public information officer on this issue, Ms. Victoria Zotikova, on (095) 956 64 05