Vietnam supports the rationale, principles and targets of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism introduced by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reported a Vietnamese diplomat.

The country is also flexible about the schedule for the UPR sessions to help other nations have more time to implement previously agreed proposals, said Ambassador Vu Dung, Vietnam ’s Permanent Representative to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva , at the Inter-governmental Working Group’s second session on the Council’s review on February 17.

He stressed on the need to focus on carrying out the agreed proposals as well as new developments on the state of human rights at the UPR session as well as during following sessions.

The Ambassador suggested that UPR documents need to have clear guidelines approved by the Council.

He also stressed that it was essential to have detailed regulations on the governance and disbursement of the Voluntary Trusts Funds as well as the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance, saying they need to be developed in time to ensure the effectiveness of the operations whilst also being transparent.

The Council review would help to increase understanding between countries and pointed out what needs to be done at present and in the future as well as what cannot be done, said the ambassador.

He said he believed that cooperation and constructive dialogue are vital for the Council, adding that although there are many differences, countries can still work together based on the spirit of mutual understanding and respect.

Also during the session, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his support for the speeches delivered by representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Non-Aligned Movement./.