UN calls for serious efforts for West Asia crisis

Washington, Jan 17: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for ''serious and renewed efforts'' to tackle the conflicts in the West Asia.

Visiting here for the first time after assuming the office, he met US President George W Bush yesterday.

After meeting President Bush, he said he wanted to turn the diplomatic Quartet - the UN, the US, the European Union (EU) and Russia - into a more effective mechanism for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr Ban also pledged support for Lebanon as it undertakes a physical reconstruction and attempts to bridge gaps among its communities in the wake of last year's war.

He listed crisis in Darfur, peace in the West Asia and nuclear disarmament among his top priorities.

Mr Ban, who favoured a ''constructive partnership'' between the UN and the US, said, ''the United Nations is capable of not just coping but thriving as it tackles global problems, but only if it can strike a close partnership with the United States that is free of fear and mistrust.'' Later, in a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies here, he said, ''If I am to succeed as Secretary General, I will need our partnership to be strong, deep and broad - politically, morally, operationally and, not least, financially.'' He, however, said that a partnership between the UN and the US cannot, and should not, advance at the expense of others.

Everyone of our member states has the right to be heard, whatever the size of its population or its pocketbook.

He urged the US to become a member of the Human Rights Council this year, saying the stakes are too high for Washington to sit on the sidelines.

Earlier, talking to newspersons about his meeting with the US President, Mr Ban said Mr Bush's assurances and comments underlined his confidence that the world body can have a very mutually cooperative and good relationship in the future with the US.

In reply to a question, he said, he was very much committed to carry out the reform in the UN system.

''I need the strong support of all Member States and the staff of the United Nations in carrying out these reform measures,'' he said.

Mr Ban also met Democratic and Republican members of the US Congress, including the key members of the Senate and House committees dealing with foreign relations.

UNI