AP

Posted: 2008-02-15 12:17:58

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told President George W. Bush on Friday that “I need your strong support” to resolve global problems.

Meeting in the Oval Office, Bush expressed strong backing for Ban and his efforts “to make the United Nations a constructive force for good.”

Bush at times has had strained relations with the United Nations, particularly when he sought unsuccessfully the organization’s blessing for the U.S.-led war in Iraq. At the time, Bush questioned whether the United Nations was relevant and said it was time for it “to show some backbone and resolve.”

On Friday, Bush was unreserved in his praise of Ban, thanking him for his efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, turmoil in Myanmar and violence in Kenya.

“I appreciate your vision,” the president said. “And thank you for your leadership and your friendship.”

Ban, in turn, thanked Bush for the support he has shown over the past year.

“I’ve been trying my best to make the United Nations more trustful, transparent and accountable and a more effective organization,” he said.

“The United States is the country with the most ability for technology and financing capacities,” the secretary-general said. “I count on your leadership and active participation.”

He said a strong partnership between the United States and the United Nations “is the crucial and important element in carrying out my duty as secretary-general and also making the United Nations organization more strengthened in carrying out the common challenges we share together.”