Slovakia FM elected president of 72nd UN General Assembly

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak was elected by acclamation on Wednesday to serve as a one-year-term president of the 72nd UN General Assembly.

He replaces Peter Thomson of Fiji formally at the opening of the annual general debate of the 193-member General Assembly in September.

The assembly also elected, by acclamation, 21 vice presidents and members of six standing committees.

"Acclamation" elections are the general practice because candidates usually are nominated by their regional groups which are, in turn, designated through an informal agreement of rotation for geopolitical balance.

Occasional real races do emerge which are brought to the floor of the General Assembly, while yearly elections for five non-permanent members of the Security Council frequently are contested.

Israel scored a rare victory of sorts when its ambassador to the world body, Danny Danon, nominated by the Western Europe and Others Group, was elected vice president by acclamation. As a lone Jewish state, Israel is vastly outnumbered by Islamic states in the general membership which oppose it for the Israeli-Palestinian problem.

The president-elect said that during his tenure among his priorities he would focus on peace, migration, development and climate change.

"We can do more to bring the UN closer to the world's citizens. Nations around the globe continue to have high hopes of the UN. It is a key task for the General Assembly as the most representative organ to step up its efforts," he said.

"It should make a real difference to the lives of ordinary people," he added. "I will facilitate a constructive, informed and open interaction among member states."

"It is the first time Slovakia has been entrusted with this role," Lajcak expressed his appreciation for the support at home.

"Over the years, we have contributed to a wide range of UN activities -- through the work in the main UN organs, participation in peacekeeping operations or delivery of humanitarian or development aid," Lajcak said.

He also promised to consult with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on UN reform efforts.

Guterres, who came to office Jan. 1 to replace retiring Ban Ki-moon, first thanked Thomson and recalled first getting to know the president-elect when they vied for the office of secretary-general last year.

"Foreign Minister Lajcak has always demonstrated an impressive command of all aspects of UN action and a strong commitment to the principles that govern our work," the secretary-general said.

"He has expressed his firm belief that strengthening the UN is the best investment to achieve the universal desire for peace, development, equality and justice in the world."

"I think that both of us saw high expectations and got a strong sense of how much governments and peoples need the United Nations to respond to the deserving cries of people around the world for lasting peace, justice, human rights and human dignity," Guterres said.