United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous has hailed Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations, expressing his hope that the UN and Vietnam will further strengthen collaboration in the field.

The UN is willing to accept Vietnamese officers to the level 2 field hospital as well as Vietnamese sappers to UN missions as required, said Ladsous while co-chairing a peacekeeping forum held by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre in Hanoi on June 10.

He said UN peacekeeping activities are becoming more complicated, leading to higher personnel requirements for the work.

They are no longer limited to monitoring the implementation of a cease-fire or a peace agreement, but have been expanded to collaboration between military and civil forces to protect civilians as well as strengthening the capacity of security forces of nations and political institutions, he said.

Peacekeeping forces also support and enhance the capacity of governments, strengthen law enforcement, improve gender inequality and protect human rights, noted the UN official.

At the event, Ladsous and Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Head of the Defence Ministry’s Steering Committee for Peacekeeping, also reviewed the initial results of Vietnam ’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

They also clarified experiences with and content of preparation of logistics for peacekeeping forces, challenges and requirements, and UN support and commitment to Vietnam in the field.

Lieut. Gen. Tuan pledged that Vietnam is ready to send additional personnel to UN missions if requested, towards joining hands with the international community for a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Vietnam will also consider expanding the scale, areas and forms of participation in line with policies, capacities and conditions of the country, he said.

After one year of operation, the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre has sent two officers to the UN mission in South Sudan and three officers to the Central Africa mission.

The centre has also trained officers for UN peacekeeping missions and sent more than 70 officials to training courses and conferences on peacekeeping operations abroad.

Military medical and engineering skill training has also been provided to forces participating in the UN level 2 field hospital and engineer team.-VNA