Vietnam’s representative to the UN Security Council pledged support for the UN agencies’ joint efforts to stepping up international cooperation and assistance to all nations in the fight against terrorism.

This statement was delivered by Ambassador Le Luong Minh in New York on December 14 while addressing the United Nations Security Council’s consultancy session regarding the operation of its Anti-Corruption Committee, to which Vietnam holds the Vice Presidency.

The same day, he reported to the UN Security Council on the work in the 2008-09 period of the Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1132 (1997) concerning Sierra Leone, to which Vietnam holds the Chairmanship.

He said since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1132 (1997), Sierra Leone has achieved tangible progress in the course of peace consolidation, socio-economic reconstruction and international reintegration.

He noted that the Government of Sierra Leone has proceeded with its Agenda for Change and has recorded incremental results in the areas of anti-corruption, security sector reform, job creation and youth empowerment.

Also, the cooperation between Sierra Leone and the UN Country Team, the Peacebuilding Commission and other development partners has been further strengthened within the framework of the UN’s Peacebuilding Strategy for Sierra Leone and the Joint Vision of the UN Family for Sierra Leone , Ambassador Minh stressed.

However, the ambassador pointed to the fact that Sierra Leone is now at a critical juncture of post-conflict peacebuilding with many challenges ahead and that the UN, regional organisations and Member States have a role to play in helping Sierra Leone better fulfill its responsibilities under relevant Security Council resolutions, taking into due account the fundamental principles of respect for the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sierra Leone./.