Vietnamese representative to the UN speaks at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. (Photo: baoquocte.vn) NewYork (VNA) – Pham Hai Anh, Vietnam’s representative to the UnitedNations, on December 10 affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance that all disputes should be settled via peaceful measures, inline with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
Whilespeaking at a plenary meeting on oceans and the law of the sea of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Anh said the settlement ofdisputes should also respect diplomatic and legal processes and not use or threatento use force.
Hestressed the role of the UNCLOS as a constitution on oceans and the sea,especially in waters with disputes like the East Sea, over the past 25 years.
Asa coastal country, Vietnam is well aware that the peaceful and sustainable useof the sea is a vital condition for sustainable development, he said.
Hewent on to say that Vietnam calls on all countries to fully observe regulationsof the UNCLOS and related agreements, and respect the rights of coastalcountries in waters defined in the convention, including maritime economicactivities.
Theofficial also expressed Vietnam’s concern over the recent events in the EastSea, which have seriously violated the sovereign right and jurisdiction ofVietnam.
Vietnamappeals to concerned parties not to repeat such violations and avoid unilateralactivities that exacerbate tensions in the East Sea, and urged efforts toensure safety and security of navigation and aviation in the waters.
Allparties need to exercise restraint, not militarise or carry out activities thatmay complicate the present situation or expand and increase disputes, whilefully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea(DOC) and working for the early completion of an effective and pragmatic Codeof Conduct in the East Sea (COC), Anh said.
Theplenary meeting looked into the UN Secretary General’s reports on oceans andthe law of the sea, as well as relevant draft resolutions.
Manycountries such as the US, Germany, Japan and Australia also touched upon the disputesin the East Sea and raised their concern over claims of historic rights, andhistorical claims towards maritime resources.
Theyshared the view that all claims must conform to international law, includingthe UNCLOS, and affirmed that the freedom of navigation and aviation must beguaranteed.
Theyalso called on parties to address international disputes without force orthreats.
Atthe end of the meeting, the 74th session of the UN General Assemblyadopted annual resolutions on sustainable fisheries, and oceans and the law ofsea./.
VNA
