Miroslav Lajcak, Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs and current President of 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly opens the session at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Pic/AFP

Peace and upholding of human rights are preconditions for development and, therefore, the UN has to put a priority on peacebuilding to prevent conflicts from arising, said General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak. "We made it very clear that you cannot speak about peace in separation from development and from human rights," he told reporters on Tuesday during the two-day high-level meeting he convened on peacebuilding and sustaining peace.