UN General Assembly ends 66th session

UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly concluded its 66th session here on Monday, with its outgoing president saying this General Assembly has stood "strong, active and responsive" to the challenges the world faced in the past year.

The impact of the global financial and economic crisis put the international community to a challenging test in the past year. There have also been serious conflicts and renewed hope, as countries emerged from conflict to peace, said Nassir Abdulaziz Al- Nasser, president of the General Assembly's 66th session in his closing remarks.

"Faced with such challenges, as well as opportunities, I am proud to say that this General Assembly has stood strong, active and responsive," he said. "New partnerships have been formed, political commitments have been renewed, and we have seen consensus, action and results becoming the order of the day."

The session kicked off last September with Nassir naming four pillars as highlights of his work including peaceful settlement of disputes, UN reform, disaster prevention and sustainable development.

The 67th session of the General Assembly opens on Tuesday and will be presided over by incoming President Vuk Jeremic of Serbia.

Nassir highlighted achievements of this Assembly in such fields as disarmament and international security, peacekeeping operations, fight against drugs and crime, counter-terrorism and prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

He noted the growing need for a universal and truly legitimate United Nations, saying "My deep belief is that the forum the UN provides - a forum for dialogue among civilizations, for peace, for a universal voice - will continue to be the best way of the world," the president said. "I am very confident that the UN will continue to offer mankind the best platform for a world of peace, security and prosperity to all."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked Nassir for his help to lead the General Assembly to deal with the challenges in the past eventful year.

Ban called for more efforts to be made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals by the 2015 deadline, sharpening the tools for peace and human rights and strengthening effectiveness and representativeness of the world body.

He also commended the president for initiating the International Day of Happiness and urged the new session to turn the aspiration into "reality".