Vietnam continues to support the role of United Nations agencies, the African Union, the West African Economic Community and the international community in helping Ivory Coast promote national stability and reconstruction, said a Vietnamese diplomat at the UN.

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN Security Council, expressed his concerns on challenges the African country is settling, which include unstable situation in northern and western Ivory Coast , increasing overseas debts, risk of rearmament of guerrilla groups, illicit drug and weapon trafficking and organised crimes.

In capacity of the UN Security Council’s rotating monthly president, Ambassador Minh at the Council’s consultation meeting on Ivory Coast on Oct. 13 acknowledged the progress in preparations for the presidential elections in the African nation scheduled for Nov. 29.

He called on all political parties in Ivory Coast to join forces to solve differences in the spirit of reconciliation and dialogue, contributing to building a favourable politic-security environment before and after the elections.

The Council agreed that “the long-term peace, stability and development of Ivory Coast was also dependent on the balanced and comprehensive settlement of many other security, socio-economic and cross-border challenges,” Ambassador Minh told reporters after the meeting.

He reiterated that the Council backed the role of the UN agencies, regional organisations and the international community in supporting national rebuilding process of Ivory Coast./.