General Assembly President holds talks with Gabonese, British officials

General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim has held talks today with senior Government ministers from Gabon and the United Kingdom, discussing issues ranging from peace and security in Africa to Security Council reform to financing for development in poor countries.

Mr. Kerim met with Gabonese Foreign Minister Laure Olga Gondjout and they discussed yesterday's Security Council debate, which stressed the importance of greater cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and the need for more funding of peacebuilding operations in Africa.

Mr. Kerim and Ms. Gondjout also discussed the global efforts to achieve the set of anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a statement released by the President's spokesperson.

During a separate meeting with Lord Mark Malloch Brown, the UK Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Mr. Kerim and the British official discussed the MDGs, Council reform and overall re-shaping of the UN.

The two men also discussed other topics, including climate change and financing for development.