WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he and U.S. President George W. Bush pledged to work together following their first meeting.
After talks with Bush at the White House Tuesday, Ban told reporters, "The United Nations needs the strong and active participation and strong support of the United States, as the United Nations and the United States have a shared objective of promoting human rights, democracy and freedom and peace and security, as well as mutual prosperity."
Ban said they discussed key regional issues, including the Darfur crisis in Sudan, the Middle East, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and North Korea's nuclear program.
The secretary-general, who took office Jan. 1, added that Bush's assurances and comments underlined his confidence the world body "can have a very mutually cooperative and good relationship in the future" with the United States.
Asked by a reporter about a newspaper op-ed column written by John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Ban said Bolton had raised some good points among his suggestions for reform measures at the world organization.
"The United Nations should change, with much more efficiency and effectiveness and mobility and the highest level of ethical standards," Ban said. "I am very much committed to carry out this reform, and I need the strong support of all (U.N.) member states and the staff of the United Nations in carrying out these reform measures."
During his visit to Washington, Ban met both Democratic and Republican members of Congress, including key members of the Senate and House dealing with foreign relations.
