UN faces biggest challenge in holding true to its course

"Never in modern history have we gone so many years without a military confrontation between the major powers", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the summit meeting commemorating the world body's 75th anniversary.

That has undoubtedly been the greatest success of the United Nations, although it has also made big contributions to human rights through the promotion of decolonization, disease eradication, poverty alleviation and environmental protection.

That all 193 members reiterated in one voice the central role of the UN and collective commitment to multilateralism was an impressive feat at a time of stark divisions.