Vietnam highlights responsibility of states in preventing crime

New York (VNA) - Vietnam highlighted the leading responsibility of nations in ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law, preventing and punishing serious criminals such as war crime, crime against humanity and crime of aggression, a Vietnamese diplomat has said.

Addressing a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Sudan situation on December 10, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, deputy head of the Vietnamese permanent mission to the UN, welcomed recent positive developments in Sudan, including the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement on October 3, 2020.

Vietnam hoped that the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) will support the transition and development process in Sudan, and acknowledged the difficult situation in Sudan, including economic and humanitarian challenges, he said.

The diplomat expressed his concern about increasing violence among communities in Sudan that killed numerous civilians, including women and children, emphasizing that the prosecution of violations of international humanitarian law, and serious criminal crimes should be conducted in accordance with basic principles of international law, including respect for national independence and sovereignty.

Representatives from UNSC member nations also applauded the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement between the Sudan government and two major armed groups in Darfur - the Sudan Revolutionary Front and the Sudan Liberation Front - Minni Minawi, while urging the signatories to fully implement the agreement.

They expressed their hope that UNITAMS will be deployed soon to support the transition process in the country.

According to the Juba Peace Agreement, the transition process in the African country will take place within 39 months from October. UNITAMS, which was established under Resolution 2524 of the UN Security Council, will support Sudan in this process, as well as help the country improve its State governance capacity, mobilize resources for the economy and development as well as implement humanitarian assistance activities./.