The UN General Assembly met on Tuesday morning to open its 61st
session with its president calling for confidence and support of
the world people towards the Organization.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the session, Sheikha Haya
Rashid Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, who is the first female General
Assembly President since 1969, stressed that the United Nations
faces many challenges.
"It needs the confidence and support of the world just as the
people of the world need this Organization," she said.
Sheikha Haya called on member states to work together in an
effort to make a real difference, to achieve a global consensus on
political, security, economic, environment and social issues, and
to translate commitments into effective actions.
Meanwhile, she sketched out proposals for the work of the 61st
session, saying the General Assembly has to continue to evolve and
strive to deliver sustainable solutions to the major current
challenges within the framework of multilateralism.
The 61st session's general debate is to be held from Sept. 19 to
27, focusing issues of the UN reform, the appointment of the
successor to Kofi Annan, development goals, counter-terrorism and
environmental protection.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)
