The Secretary General of the United Nations arrived in Dublin this evening, beginning a four-day stay in which he is expected to give furhter details of his plan to develop a multi-national military force.
Mr Annan was greeted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Dermot Ahern at Farmleigh House, in the Phoenix Park, Dublin where he and his wife, Nane, will stay during their visit. They will pay a courtesy visit to President McAleese tomorrow.
The Ghana-born diplomat, who last visited Ireland in January 1999, will address the National Forum on Europe tomorrow on the issue of EU-UN co-operation in crisis.
He is expected to advocate the development of EU military "battle groups" that could be sent to trouble spots throughout the world. The 66-year-old has already spoken of his support for a battle group which would not necessarily use force but act as a security and peacekeeping corps.
At a recent ceremony Mr Annan said "a system of collective security ... must be up is up to the task of meeting the threats of the 21st century".
The idea has the backing of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who said a rapid deployment force should be operational next year.
Mr Dermot Ahern has indicated that non-military issues will be discussed during his working dinner with Mr Annan on Friday. He said progress in implementing the Millennium Development Goals in areas such as poverty eradication, governance, gender equality, universal primary education and the elimination of HIV/AIDS.
The trip will conclude with a working lunch with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern on Saturday.
Mr Annan is then scheduled to travel across the border , where he will give the Tip O'Neill lecture at the invitation of fellow Nobel laureate Mr John Hume. He will speak about the UN's role in peacekeeping at the event which takes place on Monday at the University of Ulster in Derry.