United Nations, July 07, 2010, SPA -- British head of state Queen Elizabeth II on Monday addressed the U.N. General Assembly for the first time since 1957. In a brief speech, the queen paid tribute to the work of the United Nations in the intervening years. “When I was first here, there were just three United Nations operations overseas. Now over 120,000 men and women are deployed in 26 missions across the world,” the queen said. “You have helped to reduce conflict, you have offered humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by natural disasters and other emergencies, and you have been deeply committed to tackling the effects of poverty in many parts of the world.” The queen praised the United Nations for the progress it has made in the course of her lifetime, saying the organization “has moved from being a high-minded aspiration to being a real force for common good. That of itself has been a signal achievement.” --SPA 10:39 LOCAL TIME 07:39 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/799719