Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has voiced concerns about the situation in Great Lakes countries in Africa and emphasised a need to address the root causes of instability.
Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN upheld the role of regional cooperation and hailed efforts made to promote relations between Great Lakes countries recently during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held on October 20 to adopt a presidential statement on the Great Lakes.
He said the humanitarian situation remains worrisome, especially in eastern Congo.
He expressed his concern over the plight of millions of displaced people and refugees, as well as the more than 27 million people in Congo that face crisis‑level food insecurity.
In that context, he encouraged the further intensification of cooperation to implement the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, to strengthen management of nature resources and to tackle threats posed by armed groups.
The meeting was held under the chair of Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Council President for October Raychelle Omamo.
The adopted Presidential Statement called on relevant sides to continue commitments to implementing the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for Congo and the Region endorsed by 13 signatory countries, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Southern African Development Community and the UN.
The document also touched upon challenges and demand for stronger cooperation, notably in reducing the criminal exploitation of natural resources, improving humanitarian situation and responding to impacts of COVID-19.
It underscored the central role of regional cooperation and significance of support from the international community and the UN for stability and development./.
