国际英语新闻:Lajcak to focus on prevention of conflicts as UN General Assembly Head

BRATISLAVA, Sept.17 (Xinhua) -- Miroslav Lajcak, president of the 72nd UN General Assembly, said on Sunday, two days before he opens the General Debate on Tuesday, that he would focus his work on conflict prevention and mediation.

"I want to focus on quality and not the quantity of events, as there's a huge number of them anyway," announced Lajcak, who's also Slovak foreign and European affairs minister, in Bratislava on Sunday.

Lajcak views his added value as being in issues that concern peace, as the UN does not seem to be meeting the expectations of the public.

"Looking around us, we still see many conflicts. I want to focus on pre-conflict phases like preventing conflicts and mediation. This is what diplomacy is about and this is a matter of heart for me," said Lajcak.

At the same time Lajcak stressed that he's aware of the amount of work ahead on migration, with two key documents, on migration and on refugees, due to be adopted at the end of his term.

Other tasks will include lasting development goals, improving life on the planet by 2030 and climate change.

According to Lajcak the international community must show its unity following the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement.

"We need to approve the budget for the next two years by December. At the same time, as it seems to be a good custom everywhere, tasks are being added, but money is not," concluded Lajcak.