The United Nations General Assembly opened on Tuesday its 64th session in New York at the UN Headquarters in New York, with veteran Libyan diplomat Ali Abdussalam Treki at the helm.

Libyan diplomat Ali Abdussalam Treki addresses the first plenary meeting of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 15, 2009. The 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened here on Tuesday. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

"The United Nations must be reformed and must gain international legitimacy, ensuring that its voice is heard and respected and its resolutions applied," Treki told delegates at the opening session.

"It is vital to reform the Security Council and to re-reform the General Assembly so that they can comprehensively fulfill their roles," he said.

The GA president's speech also touched upon other key issues relating to the 192-member body's work, including counter-terrorism, the Middle East peace process, development, climate change and non-proliferation.

"We have all condemned terrorism, which causes instability and endangers the international community," Treki said. "Yet despite our joint efforts and resolutions, terrorism continues to grow and spread."

"We must address its roots and take a close look at its causes and contributing factors. This is true of terrorism carried out by individuals, groups and states; state terrorism is the harshest form of terrorism," he stated.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L) talks with president of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly (GA) Ali Abdussalam Treki after the first plenary meeting of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 15, 2009. The 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened here on Tuesday. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

On the Middle East peace process, Treki said that the Palestinian people's "aspiration towards independence and its rights to return to its land in accordance with United Nations resolutions are two fundamental conditions for the swift realization of peace and security" in the region.

Established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly occupies a central position as the chief deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.

Zhang Yesui (L) and Liu Zhenmin, Chinese permanent and deputy permanent representatives to the United Nations, attend the first plenary meeting of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 15, 2009. The 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened here on Tuesday. [Shen Hong/Xinhua]

Comprising all 192 members of the United Nations, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the UN Charter.

It also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law. The assembly meets in regular session intensively from September to December each year, and thereafter as required.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2009)