New York, NY (BBN)– General Assembly President Joseph Deiss has met with the heads of the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to discuss increased cooperation, United Nations reform, regional crises and other issues.

Mr. Deiss met on Thursday with Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri of India, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, according to a statement issued by the Assembly President’s spokesperson.

The ambassador and Mr. Deiss discussed the Council’s upcoming debate on peacekeeping, scheduled for 26 August, as well as current hotspots such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia.

The two officials also discussed how to strengthen coordination and interaction between the 193-member Assembly and the 15-member Council.

In a separate meeting with Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe of Zambia, the current President of ECOSOC, and members of ECOSOC’s bureau, Mr. Deiss discussed reform of the 54-member Council so that it can more effectively implement its resolutions.

Mr. Kapambwe also briefed Mr. Deiss on ECOSOC’s recent annual substantive session, which wrapped up at the end of last month in Geneva.

BBN/SSR/AD-13Aug11-1:12 pm (BST)