Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at the UNSC’s open video-teleconferencing meeting on the situation in Afghanistan on March 23. (Photo: VNA)It is crucial that a timely permanent ceasefire can be achieved, thereby putting an end to the ongoing violence in the Middle Eastern country, Quy told the UNSC’s open video-teleconferencing meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, which was also attended by Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Shaharzad Akbar, Chairperson for Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
“We call on the relevant parties to overcome their differences to reach an agreement on the ceasefire as soon as possible. The intra-Afghan peace negotiations need a stable and conducive environment in order to succeed and achieve a lasting political solution,” the Ambassador said.
He noted that attention continues to be given to women, in terms of protection, socio-economic development and decision-making. Vietnam encourages further efforts to enable the full potential of Afghan women to be free from fear and from want, and to lead their country on equal basis with men, he said.
The Vietnamese diplomat called on the international community to assist Afghanistan in addressing pressing issues, such as food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also welcomed the efforts of the UN Assistance Mission of Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and partners in addressing pressing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, including mine clearance and risk education during the past months in the difficult time of COVID-19.
In her remarks at the event, Deborah Lyons said the UNAMA will continue supporting Afghan peace and the all-important regional engagement. She highly spoke of the progress of human rights in Afghanistan over the past two decades, saying any peace settlement must take into account the views and the concerns of all Afghans, particularly women and ethnic minorities.
The UNAMA documented some 8,820 civilian casualties in Afghanistan last year and the country is facing severe humanitarian crisis with more than 16.9 million people, or over one third of the population, suffering from food insecurity./.
VNA
