General Assembly President and President Bush discuss UN-US cooperation

The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Jan Kavan, and United States President George W. Bush today discussed issues of mutual concern to the world body and its host country.

A spokesman for the General Assembly President said that during the meeting in New York, Mr. Kavan emphasized the importance of conflict prevention, the need to maintain and strengthen the international coalition against terrorism, and support for sustainable development.

"President Kavan expressed his preference for a joint approach to the situation regarding Iraq," spokesman Richard Sydenham reported. "Both he and President Bush agreed that indifference is not an option."

President Bush and Mr. Kavan also agreed that the US would keep the General Assembly presidency "fully and regularly" informed about Washington's policies and intentions prior to General Assembly discussions and decisions on related topics, the spokesman added.

In another development, Mr. Sydenham announced that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg would address UN Member States in the General Assembly Hall tomorrow morning.