UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto said here Friday that the assembly will meet early next week to consider postponing a high-level summit which seeks to weather the current economic crisis and search for solutions taking all nations' interests into account.

A General Assembly plenary session next Tuesday will deliberate on whether to push back the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, originally slated to be held from June 1-3, to June 24-26, according to a statement issued by d'Escoto's spokesperson.

"Delegates have expressed concern that they require more time to negotiate the draft outcome document that is to be adopted by world leaders," the statement said, adding that d'Escoto has consulted with all major regional groups in recent days on the meeting's possible three-week deferral.

The General Assembly met Friday evening, but failed to reach a consensus on the postponement.

"The issues are complex, but I am confident that we will negotiate a strong outcome document that will address the needs and concerns of the developing countries as well as the industrialized countries," d'Escoto said.

"We share the determination to address the urgent needs that this economic crisis has generated worldwide," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2009)