[2] The president of the United Nations General Assembly was chosen from the EEG (the smallest regional grouping[3]) with Serbia's then foreign minister Vuk Jeremić beating out Lithuania's Dalius Čekuolis in an election.

[1][4] Notably, the session led to United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19 which granted Palestine non-member observer state status.

He also said that the session would prioritise what he characterised as 'issues of great concern, including the promotion of sustainable development and the maintenance unity amongst UN member states.

'[5] In his acceptance speech, he said:[6] I hope that our joint endeavours may help to bring us closer to the day when humankind shall have assuaged its hurts and abolished its fears; and, in so doing, to further the aspirations of the peoples of the United Nations to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

The nineteen vice-presidents of the UNGA also elected were from: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Lebanon, Nepal (Asian group), Algeria, Angola, Congo,[which?]

He also said the main theme of the session would be the peaceful settlement of international disputes: "I hope this framework will usefully serve the noble cause of preventing gathering conflicts and resolving existing ones."

I urge the Member States to agree on a consensus document by the start of the High-Level Debate on the Rule of Law in a few days' time."

Speakers will be put on the list in the order of their request, with special consideration for ministers and other government officials of similar or higher rank.

[7] President Vuk Jeremic chose the theme: "Adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means."

[16] The three-members are: Indonesia's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the United Kingdom's David Cameron.

It had been speculated by the Middle Eastern media that the Iranian nuclear programme, along with the Syrian civil war, would constitute the main focus of the session.

[20] Following Operation Pillar of Defense, the Palestinians promised to seek a vote on an upgrade in status to non-member observer state in the UN General Assembly on 29 November, the symbolic date the UN chose voted on the Partition Plan in 1947, leading to the founding of Israel, and the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

[23] After a meeting with session President Vuk Jeremic, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane called for at least two permanent seats on the UNSC saying: "We agree with all member states that change cannot be if it (UN) continues to ignore and exclude the 54-member African Union (AU).

Côte d'Ivoire, Estonia, Ethiopia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Montenegro, Sierra Leone, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela won seats to the body for the first time; while the United States was re-elected; and Argentina, Brazil, Gabon, Germany, Japan, Pakistan and South Korea had previously served non-consecutive terms.

The outgoing members are: Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Italy, Mongolia, Netherlands, Philippines, Rwanda, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States of America and Zambia.

[28] Following the Economic and Social Council's nominations the General Assembly consensually elected seven members to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for three‑year terms from 1 January 2013.

They will join the other states already on the committee: Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Belarus, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, South Korea, Moldova, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

The outgoing members are: Armenia, Bahrain, Benin, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, South Korea, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Though nominations are filed by other UN organs, the outgoing seats up for election in the General Assembly are: Benin, Brazil, Indonesia, Tunisia and Uruguay.

[28] In closing, outgoing President Vuk Jeremic highlighted the success and failures of the session, including the inability to stop the conflict in Syria.