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Vajpayee leaves for New York

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 13 in New York. New Delhi's concerns over cross-border terrorism are expected to be brought up in his address to the world body.

Vajpayee left for a week-long visit to the United States on September 9, accompanied by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal.

They are expected to have bilateral talks with leaders of other countries including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Japan and Mauritius.

"Our basic message is that the democracies of the world have a crucial role in countering terrorism together," the prime minister told reporters before his departure.

"In the present world situation it is inevitable that the global war against terrorism as well as our own determined efforts against cross-border terrorism would figure in my various bilateral interactions in the US," he said.

He is also expected to discuss India's claim to permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

The prime minister will attend a commemorative function on September 11 in memory of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre on this day last year.

PTI

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