Jonathan, Obama meet next week in New York to repair diplomatic friction

By The Citizen

President Goodluck Jonathan and United States (U.S.) President, Barack Obama, will meet next week in New York apparently to repair the diplomatic friction arising from the U.S.' snub of Nigeria during Obama's visit to Africa in June.

Nevertheless, both leaders will also be addressing the annual United Nations General Assembly next Tuesday, UN and Nigerian official sources disclosed over the weekend. The Jonathan-Obama meeting, authoritative sources noted, would demonstrate that the U.S.-Nigeria diplomatic relationship has not been ruptured by Obama's snub.

Besides, a schedule of this year's UN General Assembly debate shows that President Jonathan will as well be speaking early and on the opening day of the debate, which is when the U.S. President, as host, also traditionally speaks.

Last month, a top U.S. Government official, Ms. Wendy Sherman, leading the American delegation to a U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission in Abuja, had presented to Jonathan a letter from his American counterpart reviewing the diplomatic relationship between both countries and inviting the former to a meeting in New York.

Speaking on the issue over the weekend, Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S., Prof. Adebowale Adefuye, confirmed that Jonathan would be going to the U.S. and would meet with Obama either on September 23 or 24.