"We look forward for cooperation with the U.N. in establishing and drafting a constitution, " said Chalabi, a former exile and a Pentagon favorite.

CNN: Chalabi: Iraqis must draft constitution alone

We also agreed to continue our close cooperation within the U.N.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

But Washington needs Russian cooperation to achieve its goals at the U.N. regarding Iran, Syria and other matters.

CNN: World to Obama: You can't ignore us

Obama has been seeking a stronger relationship with Russia and better cooperation from the Kremlin to support tough U.N. economic sanctions against Iran if it continues to pursue its nuclear ambitions.

CNN: Obama scraps Bush-era missile defense for new plan

Those efforts -- and there are other examples of that -- cooperation with the Truth Commission in El Salvador, the U.N.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Some United Nations employees who lived there remain unaccounted for, the U.N. said Sunday, and Alain Joyandet, the French minister of cooperation, said approximately 200 French tourists staying there had not been heard from.

CNN: An e-mail from Haiti, then minutes later, a nightmare

Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said U.N. weapons inspectors could resume their work, but it also linked cooperation with "a further chance to achieve justice by lifting sanctions" imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

CNN: Clinton

To date, the administration has resisted a prominent U.N. role in the political transition, although it has not flatly ruled out such cooperation.

CNN: U.S. seeking U.N. support, help on Iraq

As part of his cooperation as a government witness, Stern extracted commitments from Noramie Jasmin, the mayor of Spring Valley, N.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down