New York, September 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 on September 25.

Mr Vajpayee, who has come out strongly against the 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 address.

Mr Vajpayee is also expected to meet several world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The developments in Iraq and the US draft resolution in the UN Security Council for stationing of a multilateral force in the war-ravaged country, the West Asia crisis and the situation in Afghanistan are expected to be high on Mr Vajpayee’s agenda. Mr Vajpayee is the only Indian Prime Minister to address the UN General Assembly for five consecutive years.