UN chief highlights Russia role in settlement of world conflicts

GORKI, April 22 (Itar-Tass) - Russia plays a special role in the
settlement of world conflicts - in Libya, in the Middle East, in North
Korea and in Cote d'Ivoire, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at
talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in his residence outside
Moscow.
He said that close cooperation had established between Russia and the
United Nations. This cooperation is of tremendous importance, and the
United Nations was very pleased to cooperate with Russia on key issues of
the international agenda, he stressed.
The U.N. secretary general said he had had a very productive meeting
earlier on Friday with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and expressed hope
to continue discussions, including at events marking 25 years after the
Chernobyl disaster.
Ban Ki-moon told President Medvedev about the results of his meetings
with world leaders on the situation in Libya. He said he had met with
representatives of different organisations in Cairo, in particular the
African Union and the League of Arab States, as well as EU representatives.
An agreement was reached to continue close cooperation basing on U.N.
Security Council resolutions, he said.
Ban Ki-moon said Russia plays special role in tackling global
challenges. In particular, this concerns climate changes, food crisis, the
situation in the Middle East, in Libya, in North Korea and in Cote d'
Ivoire, he continued.
Ban Ki-moon also thanked the Russian leader for supporting his efforts
as U.N. secretary general.