UNITED NATIONS - The 72nd session of the UN General Assembly -- the world organization’s all 193-member body -- opened on Tuesday with a promise from its new top official to make the upcoming year one of “firsts.” President Miroslav Lajcak saw those “firsts” in compacts on migration, fighting sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping, eliminating nuclear weapons and a first high-level event on sustaining peace.
But, Lajcak said it would also be a year of “follow-ups” to earlier “firsts,” because, “’Firsts’ bring photographers and celebrations. Follow-up often comes with challenges and complications. Over the coming year, we will need to maintain the momentum in implementing and financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” referring to the 2030 Agenda of 17 goals. “We must work to ensure that the Paris Climate Agreement is integrated into national, regional and international frameworks,” the new president said. “We must follow our commitments from yesterday with actions now. We cannot let reports or events or resolutions of the past be relegated to the UN’s archives. (Xinhua)