Vietnam's new position in the international arena |
Vietnam's new position in the international arena
Content of the
conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham
Gia Khiem.
On October 16, at the
62nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Vietnam was elected by the
majority of member countries as a non-permanent member of the Security Council
for the 2008-2009 term. Could the Deputy Prime Minister evaluate the
significance and impact of this event on domestic and international?.
The election of Vietnam
as a non-permanent member of the Security Council is the largest foreign
political event of our country in 2007, marking another important achievement
in the open and active foreign policy. and actively participate in
international affairs.
This event also shows
that the international community appreciates the great achievements of the doi
moi process carried out in Vietnam over the past 20 years and believes in
Vietnam's ability to take on a new international role. .
As a member of theSecurity Council, Vietnam has the conditions to bring its international
relations into depth, substance and effectiveness. For the first time in
history, Vietnam has a weighty voice on issues related to international peace
and security - something we couldn't have just 20 years ago. Vietnam will be
known in the world as an active actor in international relations.
Immediately after our
independence, President Ho Chi Minh was aware of the importance of the United
Nations in world political life and sent a letter to the permanent members of
the Security Council expressing want to join this organization.
To this day, we are
proud to have fulfilled President Ho Chi Minh's wish: Vietnam has had a
position in world political life, being able to discuss and decide with the
great powers of the five continents. important issues related to war and peace
in the world.
Could you tell us what
preparations our country has made, especially in renewing the activities of the
Vietnamese permanent representative mission to the United Nations, to be able
to perform this new role well?
The preparation to join
the Security Council began in 1997 when we ran for the position of a
non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2008-2009 term. In October
2006, the Group of Asian countries unanimously nominated Vietnam as the
continent's candidate for the Security Council and on October 16, Vietnam was
officially elected to the Security Council with a high number of votes. .
In the past 10 years,
preparations for a new international role have been urgently conducted in many
directions, from mobilizing international support to organizing research and
surveying the experiences of a number of countries that are already members of
the Council. Security and staff training.
The candidacy for the
Security Council was conducted in the context that we were promoting
international integration by joining ASEAN (1995), joining WTO (1995-2007),
participating in the ASEM process (1996), participating in the ASEM process. He
joined the United Nations Economic and Social Council (1997), joined APEC (1998).
The Permanent Mission
of Vietnam to the United Nations has been supplemented with many well-trained
and experienced staff in multilateral activities. The operation and reporting
mechanism of the delegation was adjusted so that the coordination between New
York and Hanoi was quick and effective. The country also established a
specialized department to promptly handle all issues arising during the
operation of the Security Council.
Could the Deputy Prime
Minister tell us about the major orientations directing our country's
activities and behavior at the United Nations during our country's tenure as a
non-permanent member of the Security Council?
Participation in the
Security Council concretizes the Party's policy set out at the VIII National
Congress of "multi-faceted, bilateral and multilateral cooperation with
other countries and international organizations" and the foreign policy
policy of Vietnam. At the Xth Congress, it was "expanding foreign
relations, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, creating favorable
conditions for the construction and defense of the Fatherland".
In this new role, we
will take advantage of the Security Council mechanism to protect national
interests, maintain a peaceful and stable environment for development. The consideration
and decision on issues raised at the Security Council must be based on the
principle of independence and autonomy; put the national interest first; comply
with international law and the Charter of the United Nations; respect and
protect the legitimate and legitimate interests of related parties.
As a representative of
Asia at the Security Council, Vietnam will demonstrate the role of a
responsible representative in ensuring security, peace and stability in Asia
and around the world.
Please tell us what we
need to do during our tenure in the Security Council to both affirm Vietnam's
ability to participate in the handling of world problems while enhancing and
protecting the interests of the United States. legitimate interests of our
country and friends in the common development process of the world?
As a nation that has
spent decades fighting for the cause of national liberation and creating a
peaceful environment for national construction and development, Vietnam
understands the price of peace and security for the nation. develop.
Therefore, we always
strive for a peaceful world and strongly promote the building of fair and
healthy international relations on the basis of international law and the
principles of the Charter of the United Nations. country.
Vietnam's election to
the Security Council has demonstrated the international community's confidence
in Vietnam's ability and experience in participating in handling security and
peace issues.
During its tenure in
the Security Council, Vietnam has the opportunity to affirm Vietnam's
consistent stance on settling disputes and conflicts by peaceful means, on the
basis of international law and international principles. principles of the
Charter of the United Nations and guarantees fundamental national rights.
Together with other
countries, we will promote the United Nations to adopt resolutions, decisions
and specific measures to promote the role of the United Nations; fight against
arms race, disarmament, preventing and resolving international conflicts.
Protect the
independence and self-determination of peoples; improve the international
economic environment; economic, cultural and social development and guarantee
of human rights.
We are completing the
preparations related to effective participation in UN peacekeeping operations
in accordance with our conditions and capabilities.