VN announces priorities during tenure on UN Security Council
DURING its working term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2020-2021, Vietnam will work hard to contribute to preventing conflicts, promoting preventive diplomacy and dealing with disputes peacefully in the spirit of Article 6 of the UN Charter.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, introduced priorities during the country’s tenure on the UNSC at a press conference in New York on Thursday.
The ambassador said Vietnam would also try to engage in the reform of the council’s operations and the active cooperation between the council and regional organisations.
He said Vietnam would voice its opinions on major issues such as the protection of civilians and essential infrastructure work in conflict areas, the safeguarding of women and children during armed conflicts, the settlement of bombs and mines left by war, and the UN peacekeeping operations.
Countering the impacts of climate change on peace and security would also be among priorities for Vietnam in the year, he stated.
Answering reporters’ questions on whether Vietnam would work for stronger voices of non-permanent members at the UNSC, the diplomat said that the efforts of a sole member could not make any change. However, if all nonpermanent members worked together, things might be different, he said.
Regarding Vietnam’s relations with the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), especially after Vietnam hosted the second DPRK-US Summit early this year, Quy said that Vietnam and the DPRK had both multilateral and bilateral ties and that Vietnam was striving to deliver to the DPRK its message that opening its doors and integrating into the world would make each country stronger and assist with its development.
Vietnam had shared its experience with the DPRK in normalising relations with the US, he said, noting that Vietnam and the US had lifted their relations to a comprehensive partnership.
Answering questions on whether Vietnam would bring the East Sea issue to UNSC discussions, Quy said that for a matter to be debated at the council, there should be support from at least nine member countries. Vietnam would do what it should and could do at a suitable time, he added.
The Vietnamese representative also answered questions on other outstanding matters such as the reconstruction of Syria, the human rights situation in some countries as well as humanitarian relief activities of the UN.
Vietnam has finished preparations to take on the responsibilities of a non-permanent member of the UNSC. As the chair of the UNSC starting in January, Vietnam will chair the council’s meetings, and after receiving permission from the council, Vietnam will represent the council as a UN agency.