U.N. general assembly opens its 66th session

The UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday its 66th annual session, calling for the peaceful settlement of disputes as part of four-point working agenda guiding the international body. "History has shown that peaceful settlements, including those brokered through mediation efforts, provide the most cost-effective and long-lasting solution for disputes," said General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser of Qatar in an opening speech. "It is my intention to actively pursue this issue in the 66th session with a view not to only sustaining the work that has come before, but also to increasing this momentum." He also noted other issues on the Assembly's agenda, including reform and revitalization of the assembly, the need to build up efforts to respond to natural disasters and finally the push to ensure sustainable development and economic prosperity, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA".