Vietnam backs UN peacekeeping mission

Hanoi, September 29 (VNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has confirmed that Vietnam welcomes and supports the effectiveness of the United Nations peacekeeping operations. At the Summit on United Nations Peacekeeping in New York on September 26, Minh said Viet Nam looks forward to the continued support and cooperation with other countries, the UN and the international community in the future endeavours. “Building on past achievements, future UN peacekeeping operations should focus more on addressing the root causes of conflicts by involving all stakeholders in finding, by peaceful means, long-term comprehensive solutions covering all political, security, economic, and social dimensions. All operations must be guided by the fundamental principles of UN Peacekeeping. Accordingly, the establishment or expansion of missions must be fully in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference”, he added. The same day, Minh also attended the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, a meeting between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and UN Secretary General and General Assembly Chairman, and a meeting between ASEAN FMs and US Secretary of State John Kerry. He said ASEAN and the UN need to intensify cooperation to safeguard peace, stability, and maritime security and safety in the region on the basis of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Meanwhile, he suggested the US take result-orientated measures to narrow development gaps and strengthen connectivity in ASEAN to ensure peace, stability, security and development in the region. He met bilaterally with the Foreign Ministers of Vanuatu and Russia.-VNA