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 beachieved, thereby putting an end to the ongoing violence in the Middle Easterncountry, Quy told the UNSC’s open video-teleconferencing meeting on the situationin Afghanistan, which was also attended by Deborah Lyons, SpecialRepresentative of the UN Secretary-General and Shaharzad Akbar, Chairperson forAfghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
“We call on the relevant parties to overcome theirdifferences to reach an agreement on the ceasefire as soon as possible. Theintra-Afghan peace negotiations need a stable and conducive environment inorder to succeed and achieve a lasting political solution,” the Ambassadorsaid.
He noted that attention continues to be given to women,in terms of protection, socio-economic development and decision-making. Vietnamencourages further efforts to enable the full potential of Afghan women to befree from fear and from want, and to lead their country on equal basis withmen, he said.
The Vietnamese diplomat called on the internationalcommunity to assist Afghanistan in addressing pressing issues, such as foodinsecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also welcomed the efforts of the UN Assistance Missionof Afghanistan (UNAMA), the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and partners inaddressing pressing humanitarian challenges in Afghanistan, including mineclearance and risk education during the past months in the difficult time ofCOVID-19.
In her remarks at the event, Deborah Lyons said the UNAMAwill continue supporting Afghan peace and the all-important regionalengagement. She highly spoke of the progress of human rights in Afghanistanover the past two decades, saying any peace settlement must take into accountthe views and the concerns of all Afghans, particularly women and ethnicminorities.
The UNAMA documented some 8,820 civilian casualties inAfghanistan last year and the country is facing severe humanitarian crisis withmore than 16.9 million people, or over one third of the population, sufferingfrom food insecurity./.
VNA
