Vietnam seeks solutions to conflicts in Africa

New York – Vietnamese Ambassador Le Luong Minh, working as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Chairman, received Ugandan Defense Minster Chrispus Kiyonga in New York on June 23 to discuss several issues relating to conflicts in Africa .

The Vietnamese representative to the UNSC pointed to the need to enhance the deployment of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and handle conflicts between the government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Uganda .

The Ambassador stressed a policy to solve conflicts through dialogues and peaceful negotiations while advocating the UNSC’s continued provision of assistance in human resources and facilities to help fully deploy the AMISOM, contributing to establishing order and stability in Somalia .

Ambassador Minh committed, in his position as the UNSC Chairman, that Vietnam will make contributions to ensuring the UNSC’s decisions to reflect concerns and legitimate interests of member countries and concerned parties.

Vietnam pushes for solution to Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict

New York – A Vietnamese diplomat has called upon Eritrea and Ethiopia to strictly implement their commitments to agreements they had signed in an effort to resolve their conflict.

Deputy Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Security Council Ambassador Bui The Giang made the appeal at a UNSC meeting on the Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict in New York on June 23.

Expressing concern about the impact of the current stalemate on regional peace and stability, the ambassador urged the parties to refrain from any threat or use of force against each other and engage in diplomatic efforts to resolve their differences peacefully and in a manner consistent with international law and the UN Charter.

Giang applauded the UN Secretary General’s intermediary role in helping the parties implement the signed agreements, including the Algiers Agreement, the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, and the Peace Agreement.

The diplomat hoped that as a regional organisation having a prominent role in the maintenance of peace and security in Africa, the African Union will be able to help Eritrea and Ethiopia find out a comprehensive and long-lasting solution to their border conflict.

Vietnam acclaims Israel-Syria indirect talks

New York – Vietnam welcomed the resumption of indirect talks between Israel and Syria under Turkish mediation and considered this a positive step towards a comprehensive and long-term solution to the prolonged Middle East issue.

The Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador Le Luong Minh, made the statement at a UNSC debate on the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights, convening in New York on June 23.

Minh applauded UNDOF’s efforts and role in maintaining stability and security on the Golan Heights and affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UN Secretary General’s recommendation to extend UNDOF’s mandate for another six months.

At the meeting, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations reported on UNDOF’s activities over the past six months, taking note of the overall quiet situation in the UNDOF’s area of operation thanks to cooperation from both Syria and Israel .

However, it raised concern about the continued restrictions imposed by the two sides on the movement of UNDOF personnel, hindering them from realising their tasks.

On behalf of the Secretary General, the department proposed the UNSC members extend UNDOF’s mission for an additional six months.

Vietnam, EU discuss boosting trade

Brussels – Vietnam and the European Union agreed to build their Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) into a comprehensive package that includes dialogue and cooperation in politics, economics, culture and development.

The two sides agreed in their first round of talks on the PCA, which ended in Brussels last week, that they would build their PCA an inheritance of the framework agreement that Vietnam and the European Commission signed in 1995.

The negotiators agreed on the scale and structure of their future PCA and that they would hold the second round of talks in Vietnam this autumn.

During the talks, Vietnamese negotiators said they were disappointed with the European Council’s recent decision to exclude Vietnamese leather shoe exports to the EU from the list of products enjoying the Generalised System of Preferences beginning in 2009.

Cambodian General visits Vietnam to strengthen ties

Hanoi – The Director of the Cambodian National Defence University , General Ung Sean, was received by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defence Lieutenant-General Nguyen Van Duoc on June 24.

The Cambodian General’s seven-day visit aims to boost friendship relations and mutual understanding between the two countries’ armed forces and people, as well as the relationship between the Cambodia National Defence University and the Vietnam Institute of National Defence.

The Cambodian General thanked the Vietnamese lieutenant-general for his reception and expressed his pleasure to visit and work in Vietnam.

Vietnam calls for peaceful dialogue on Zimbabwe issue

New York – A Vietnamese representative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called all concerned parties in Zimbabwe to put the mutual interest of the Zimbabwean people above all partisan interests and engage in dialogue and peacefully resolve their differences.

At the UNSC’s session on Africa’s peace and security on June 23, Ambassador Hoang Chi Trung, deputy representative of Vietnam to the UNSC, voiced concerns about the violence and instability in Zimbabwe , which has been hindering the Presidential run-off election scheduled on June 27 and negatively affecting the lives of Zimbabwean people and peace in southern Africa .

At the same time, Trung stressed that the Zimbabwe issue is not a threat to international peace and security, adding that the UNSC should exercise utmost caution and not intervene in Zimbabwe ’s internal affairs.

Highlighting the role of mediators, the diplomat expressed support for efforts made by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in helping concerned parties to resolve their dispute via peaceful negotiation.

In conclusion, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed hope that the situation in Zimbabwe will soon stabilise, thus enabling the people in Zimbabwe to address the current socio-economic and humanitarian difficulties.

The UNSC at the session issued a statement, saying that any government in Zimbabwe should meet the demands of its people. It also applauded the international community’s efforts, particularly that of the SADC and South African President Thabo Mbeki in seeking peaceful solutions to the Zimbabwe issue.

Cambodian King’s visit fosters ties with Vietnam

Hanoi – State President Nguyen Minh Triet welcomed Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk to Vietnam at a grand ceremony on June 24, saying that the visit is an important event that will help foster neighbourliness between the two countries.

President Triet went on to say that solidarity and traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia is of great significant to the development of each country, contributing to consolidating peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Cambodian King said he was pleased to visit Vietnam again and was moved by the Vietnamese people’s sentiment and hospitability.

On the afternoon of the same day, President Nguyen Minh Triet held a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni.

In the evening, President Triet will host a banquet in honour of the Cambodian King.