Vietnam welcomes efforts in building peace: Ambassador hinh anh 1Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (Source: VNA)

New York (VNA) – Vietnam welcomes all efforts in organising and distributing resources to prevent disputes, as well as in building and maintaining peace, stated Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations.

Addressing a UN Security Council’s open discussion themed “Collective Action to Improve UN Peacekeeping Operations,” on March 28 in New York, the Vietnamese ambassador emphasised that peacekeeping activities should be reformed to improve efficiency in responding to current complicated challenges.

She shared viewpoints of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries and ASEAN members that peacekeeping operations should be implemented within the framework of international law and the UN Charter, with respect to national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of states.

The operations must be conducted with agreement of relevant parties without using forces except the purposes of self-defence and mission implementation, he added.

Ambassador Nga affirmed that Vietnam will continue efforts to contribute to UN peacekeeping operations, she noted, adding that the country is deploying a level-two field hospital in South Sudan.

Recognising the role of women in peace keeping and building missions, Vietnam has sent the first female officer to join peacekeeping operations and will deploy other female officers when the field hospital in South Sudan is implemented, said Nga.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on member countries to sustain their political engagement and push for political solutions and inclusive peace processes, including through bilateral diplomacy and sanctions if necessary. 

He noted that peace operations cannot succeed if they are deployed instead of a political solution, rather than in support of one.  

And UN peacekeeping missions now operate in far more dangerous, complex and high-risk environments. They are under threat from armed groups, criminals and terrorists, who have access to powerful modern weapons, he said, adding that UN peacekeepers are often under-equipped, under-prepared and unready for the dangerous environments in which they now operate.  There are gaps in command and control, in culture, in equipment and in training.
 
Last year, the UN lost 59 peacekeepers through malicious acts – a sharp increase since 2016, when the figure was 34, he said.

He suggested that member states should focus our efforts in three areas: refocusing peacekeeping with realistic expectations; making peacekeeping missions stronger and safer; and mobilising greater support for political solutions and for well-structured, well-equipped, well-trained forces. -VNA
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