Nasser, who has been Qatar’s ambassador to the United Nations since 1998, will replace Joseph Deiss of Switzerland. Previously Qatar’s envoy to Canada, Brazil, Cuba and other countries, he will take over the UN job in mid-September.

Nasser told the the 192-nation General Assembly after his unanimous election that he would act as a bridge between developed, developing and least-developed nations.

He added that he would focus on “building consensus on major global challenges facing the world today.” He said those included armed conflicts, climate change, tackling the financial crisis, poverty and responding to natural disasters.

The post of president of the General Assembly has little real power but a high profile in chairing the annual September gathering of world leaders in New York. He or she also represents the assembly on foreign tours.

UN diplomats say Nasser is a competent diplomat who will likely follow in the footsteps of Deiss, who has not ruffled Western feathers the way his two predecessors did.

Deiss followed two men both noted for their strong views on the Middle East — one-time Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D’Escoto, who held the post from 2008-09, and Ali Treki of Libya, who was assembly president from 2009-10.

D’Escoto made headlines by accusing the United States of “demonizing” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israel of practicing apartheid-style racial separation against Palestinians.

Treki maintained a lower profile, but last year accused Israel of “inhuman and totally unacceptable aggression” by storming a Turkish aid ship that was trying to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, whom Libyan rebels have been trying for months to overthrow, had hoped to appoint Treki as his UN envoy but the Libyan diplomat defected to the opposition after leaving the country.

The General Assembly job rotates between geographic areas. This year it is the turn of the Asia Group, which includes countries in Asia and the Middle East.