Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang (second from right) and UN Police Advisor and Director of Police Division Faisal Shahkar (second from left) hand over the decision to establish Vietnam Peacekeeping Police Unit No. 1 (Photo:VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of PublicSecurity (MPS) Office for UN Peacekeeping Operations held an inaugurationceremony for the Vietnam Police Peacekeeping Unit No.1 in Hanoi on January 11. 
The unit is tasked with ensuring safety and securityfor UN personnel and assets, joining efforts in civilian protection, andsupporting other police services when required at UN peacekeeping missions.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Public SecurityLuong Tam Quang stressed that the decision to establish the unit demonstratesthe commitment of the Party, the State and the ministry to actively and responsiblyjoining efforts in maintaining peace, stability and development in the regionand the world.
This is a new step forward after the initial success insending working groups to UN peacekeeping missions, he said, noting that the establishment of the first police peacekeeping unit aims to contribute more to protecting international and regional peace andsecurity, as well as the basic principles of the UN Charter.
Addressing the event, Commissioner Faisal Shahkar, UNPolice Advisor and Director of Police Division, hailed the VietnameseGovernment and the MPS for their commitment to UN peacekeeping.
"The establishment of this unit is a historicmilestone and a testament to Vietnam's growing role and contribution toregional and global peace and security. It demonstrates the professionalism anddedication of Vietnam's police force as well as the country's willingness toshare its expertise and experience with countries in need," he said.
He expressed his confidence that once deployed, theunit will uphold the highest standards of conduct and performance, and willmake a positive difference in the lives of the people it serves.
"The United Nations is grateful for yourpartnership and support, and we look forward to working with you in thefuture," he said.
According to Shahkar, formed police units (FPUs) nowrepresent around 75% of the UN police personnel deployed in peacekeepingoperations. Today, close to 8,000 UN police officers are authorised to serve inUN peace operations. Among those, there are 34 FPUs approved for deployment, comprisingthe total strength of almost 6,000 police officers.
"FPUs contribute to the implementation ofessential mandated tasks, namely the safety and security of UN personnel andassets, the protection of civilians and support for state police operationsrequiring a specialised or formed response," he said.
"Performing these tasks effectively demands theright balance of guidance, training, compliance and oversight," the Commissioner said, affirming support for contributingcountries, including Vietnam, by facilitating and promoting good practices andcoordinating efforts from multiple actors.
In an interview granted to the press, Shahkar saidVietnam’s police have recently joined UN peacekeeping operations and they are “performingvery well”, expressing his hope that they will make more contributions in thenear future.
Pointing to increasing challenges in the field, whichrequire all peacekeepers to be properly trained, he stressed that theVietnamese government and the MPS are “taking steps in the right direction.”
Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Nam, Commander of the VietnamPolice Peacekeeping Unit No.1, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that followingthe establishment, the unit will undergo training that follow UN standards andwill be assessed by UN experts.
Regarding personnel selection, he said the unitmembers must be the most outstanding officers who have good professional and foreignlanguage skills, and knowledge about international law.
So far, Vietnam has deployed seven police officers toUN peacekeeping operations, including six to the UN Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS) and one to the UN headquarters.
The year 2023 continued to witness Vietnam’s practicaland effective contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, helpingto affirm the country’s image as a dynamic, active and responsible member ofthe international community.
Following the Party and State’s orientations, Vietnamhas sent personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, realising the country’s foreignpolicy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development.
Vietnam has so far sent nearly 800 military and publicsecurity officers to the UNMISS, the UN Multidimensional IntegratedStabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and the UNInterim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as well as the UN headquarters in theforms of individuals and units.
Currently, Vietnam ranks 45th out of 120 countriessending military and police officers to the missions with the number ofpersonnel regularly deployed to field missions reaching 274, including 36 womenofficers./.
VNA
