President Biya’s meeting with the UN Secretary General was followed by another important tête-à-tête, this time with the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, H.E. Johnny Carson.

After presenting two significant and indeed soul-searching statements at the ongoing sixty-fifth session of the UN General Assembly, President Paul Biya on Saturday September 25 started the day with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon for talks, the second in the series since his arrival in New York for the high-level meeting devoted to the Millennium Development Goals.
Besides other Heads of State like H.E. Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Ernes Jonnie Bai Koroma of Sierra-Leone, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Japan, H.E..Seiji Maehara among other dignitaries, with whom the UN Chief Scribe met and held important discussions on national and other related issues, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in his talks with President Biya, as anyone would expect, must have delved into crucial issues concerning not only Cameroon and the Central African region, but also matters of peace and cooperation between African countries and the developed world.
President Biya’s meeting with the UN Secretary General was followed by another important tête-à-tête, this time with the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, H.E. Johnny Carson. This meeting, which lasted about an hour held at the Wardoff Astoria Hotel where the Cameroon Presidential couple are being lodged during this mission to the United Nations Headquarters.
When it was all over between the two dignitaries, the US Assistant Secretary Of State for Africa , Johnny Carson disclosed to the Cameroon press that he has very useful discussions with President Paul Biya whose country is a wonderful cooperation partner with the US and catalyst of peace in the Central African region. They also delved into the political situation in the Gulf of Guinea with a deep concern for peace to reign so as to ensure political stability and development.
Asked about African nation’s concern about its non membership of the Social Security Council, the Assistant Secretary regretted the absence but even though as an individual, he was incapable of altering the trend, he believed something would be done about it in the nearest future. President Paul Biya’s meetings with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and the US Assistant Secretary of State for African after a hectic week of activities at the UN General session focusing on very crucial matters concerning the world once again portrays the challenge leaders and the led face in the onerous task of total commitment to all that which is undertaken at national and international levels in the interest of compatriots and mankind at large.

Several speeches attracted attention at the United Nations General Assembly including that of US President Barrack Obama.

President Paul Biya’s charged programme at the sixty-fifth session of the UN General Assembly holding in New York Tuesday, 22nd September 201O continued with a tête-à-tête when the Cameroon Head of State and UN Secretary General, Ban Ki- moon, met to talk on issues of common interest.

The warm and fraternal welcome accorded President Biya on his arrival at H.E. Ban Ki-Moon’s office was evident of his joy of seeing the Cameron leader take off time from is tight programme to share with him topical issues of global concern. During their discussions, the two leaders must have delved into important, issues concerning Cameroon and their international community. There is also no doubt that they must have touched other important matters concerning bilateral relations between peace-loving Cameroon and its cooperation partners.

This meeting of President Paul Biya and the UN Chief Scribe gave way to another exciting event at the sixty-fifth session of the UN General Assembly- the arrival of US President Obama to address the august High-level meeting. The US strong man arrived at the UN New York complex to the kind of euphoria that speaks for itself when it comes to popularity and well-wishing by nationalists and their friends abroad. Before US President Obama arrived at the UN General Assembly hall for the presentation of his address, the number of newsmen, photographers and TV cameramen waiting to get a glimpse of the President was such that the youthful and dynamic US leader hardly stopped expressing his joy in seeing many from different parts of the world react so hilariously in his favour. The President hardly stopped greeting his admirers who even wished to have him out with them for some minutes were it not for protocol and security services that would not allow it.

However, that was not all that rendered the day eventful.

The US President in his speech touched the hearts of many when he harped on what he believes the world must be doing to ensure peace, happiness and development. “When a child dies from a preventable disease, it shocks our conscience….When disease goes unchecked it can endanger the lives of millions around the world.”

After these reminders, President Obama harped on the importance of working hard to provide for children who die from malnutrition and billions of people who endure the misery of chronic hunger. The millennium Development Goals, President Obama noted, if given the importance could mean much to poverty alleviation and improved standards of living besides other pleasant surprises. It was his sincere wish that the brilliant initiative be given the importance it deserves.

SHEY Peter MABU