By DANIEL IDONOR in USA

NEW YORK – President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to leave Abuja today to join other world leaders in New York for the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

President Jonathan who will be accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Health, Justice, Petroleum and Power, is also scheduled to participate in a high-level  meeting on desertification, land degradation and drought which will be hosted by the Secretary-General  of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, tomorrow.

A statement by Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the President will address the General Assembly on Wednesday and thereafter commence high-level diplomatic talks with several world leaders on the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and their countries.

Beside, a reception to be hosted by President Barack Obama of the United States in New York, Jonathan would hold talks with President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil,  President Sebastian Pinera of Chile, President Mahinda Rajapaska of Sri Lanka, President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic, President Pal Schmitt of Hungary, President Mikhail Shaskashvili of Georgia and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, as well as Prime Minister Pedro Coelho of Portugal and Japan’s new Prime Minister, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda.

Before returning to Nigeria on Friday, President Jonathan will attend a high-level round-table on the Nigerian economy being organized by the African Business Round-table and Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.

The President  will also confer with some leading players in the global economy, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Worldwide, Mr. Rex W. Tillerson and Mr. Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.