New York (VNA) – Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, headof the Vietnamese permanent mission to the UN, has called for the removal ofunilateral coercive measures negatively affecting countries’ socio-economicdevelopment and people’s life, and the restraint of unilateral coercive actionsin international relations.
Addressing the UN Security Council’s Arria-Formula Meetingon “End Unilateral Coercive Measures Now” on November 25, Quy called on theinternational community to join hands in responding to challenges, includingthe COVID-19 pandemic.
He criticised actions which run counter to the UN Charterand the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning FriendlyRelations and Cooperation among States, particularly unilateral coercivemeasures.
These actions have eroded mutual trust, intensifiedtensions, and posed latent risks of conflicts, he noted, stressing the need topromote multilateralism and dialogue, abide by the UN Charter and internationallaw, solve conflicts peacefully, and respect each other’s sovereignty,territorial integrity and independence.
The UNSC should prevent and solve disputes, protectcivilians, and ensure its sanctions do not cause humanitarian burden on people,he added.
Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impactof the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, emphasisedthe necessity to consider the legality of unilateral coercive measures whichare not allowed or exceed the UNSC’s allowance, and assess their impact on the enjoymentof human rights.
The trading of basic necessities such as medicine, medicalequipment and food should not be subject to any coercive measures or unilateralcoercive measures, either directly or indirectly, she said.
Activities which hamper COVID-19 prevention efforts shouldbe removed or at least suspended, she added./.