UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14: The UN General Assembly opened its annual session on Tuesday with a fervent plea for cooperation in tackling looming crises from conflicts to climate change.

“Moving forward myriad of issues before us will require hard work, integrity, and partnership,” the assembly’s president for its 66th session, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar, told the meeting, which was dedicated to the memory of Dag Hammarskjöld, who died in a plane crash in 1961 while trying to bring peace to the nascent country now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

“The sands are shifting. We have before us a unique opportunity to shape change and ensure that our next chapter will be safer for the most vulnerable, more prosperous for those in need, and kinder to Planet Earth.”

He outlined four main areas of focus for this year’s session. The first is the peaceful settlement of disputes, a need that has become more relevant and urgent than ever. “It is my view that the General Assembly should, through its revitalisation, become more engaged and empowered on issues of mediation, so that it can fulfil its role as the world’s pre-eminent peacemaker at this major juncture in international relations,” he said.

Turning to UN reform, Mr Al-Nasser called for revitalising the assembly’s work so that it remains efficient, effective and representative, especially in responding early to emerging crises, and for reforming the Security Council.

“There is no shame in recognising that after six decades our organisation needs reform,” Mr Al-Nasser said.