Vietnamese peacekeepers to UN Mission in South Sudan (Photo: VNA) Addressing a general debate of the Special Political andDecolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee) on October 25, Ambassador Pham HaiAnh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam tothe UN, underlined that the peacekeeping operation is one of important tools of theUN in maintaining peace and international security.
Mentioning Vietnam’s contributions to UN missions in CentralAfrica and South Sudan recently, he said that the ratio of Vietnamese femalepeacekeepers in the missions now stands at 20.6 percent, compared to the rate of 16.5 percent last year and much higher than the UN target by 2028.
He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to actively andintensively engage in UN peacekeeping operations.
The Vietnamese representative underlined the significance ofthe decolonisation process and respect for the right to self-determination of peoples of colonial countries in line with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence toColonial Countries and Peoples in 1960, the UN Charter and relevant resolutions.
He expressed his concern about the situation of Palestinianrefugees in the Gaza Strip and occupied Palestinian territories, affirming thatVietnam supports the self-determination right and the just struggle ofPalestinian people for this right, as well as the two-state solution with theformation of the Palestinian State having Jerusalem as the capital city and thepeaceful existence with Israel.
He also called on stakeholders to create favourableconditions for humanitarian activities and response to the call from the UNSecretary General to strengthen contributions to activities of the UnitedNations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the NearEast (UNRWA).
An overview of the debat (Photo: VNA) Regarding the bomb and mine issue, Ambassador Anh said thatbombs, mines and unexploded ordnance left by the war have continued to be athreat to civilians in 60 countries and territories, including Vietnam. Hethanked the UN, international organisations, countries and non-governmentalorganisations for their efforts in minimising risks and dealing with bomb and mine consequences.
He shared Vietnam’s experience in implementingnational-level solutions and called for countries' cooperation to settle challenges in the process of bomb and mine clearance.
The Vietnamese Ambassador also affirmed Vietnam’s stance of supporting international efforts in promoting the peaceful use of outerspace, and called on countries to exercise restraint to avoid armed race in thespace. He also expressed Vietnam’s hope to strengthen cooperation with the internationalcommunity in space science and technology, ensuring security and safety of theouter space to serve sustainable development of all people.
The Fourth Committee considers a broad range of issuescovering a cluster of five decolonisation-related agenda items, the effects ofatomic radiation, questions relating to information, a comprehensive review ofthe question of peacekeeping operations as well as a review of specialpolitical missions, the UNRWA, Israeli Practices and settlement activitiesaffecting the rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupiedterritories, and International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.In addition to these annual items, the Committee also considers the items onAssistance in mine action, and University for peace biennially and trienniallyrespectively, both of which will be before it at the 76th session of theGeneral Assembly.
Currently, there are 17 remainingNon-Self-Governing Territories in the world, namely West Sahara, Anguilla,Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas),Monstserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States VirginIslands, Gibraltar, American Samoa, French Polynesia, Guam, New Caledonia,Pitcairn, and Tokelau./.
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