New York, Sept 20: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrived here today on a week-long visit during which he would meet US President George W Bush on September 23 and address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25. Vajpayee, who has come out strongly against 'double standards' adopted by some western countries in dealing with terrorism, is expected to underpin the importance of the international community to unite to root out the scourge and ensure global peace and security in his UNGA address. Besides meeting Bush on September 23, Vajpayee is also expected to meet several other world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of UNGA during his stay here. The developments in Iraq and the US draft resolution in the UN Security Council for stationing of a multi-lateral force in the war-ravaged country, the West Asia crisis and the situation in Afghanistan are expected to be high on Vajpayee's agenda during his meetings with world leaders and his UNGA address.
Vajpayee is the only Indian Prime Minister to address the UN General Assembly for five consecutive years.
Though India will continue its balancing act on the West Asia front, Vajpayee, who reached here after a four-day visit to Turkey, is likely to convey to the world community New Delhi's opposition to any Israeli move to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat from the West Bank. Bureau Report