Vietnam-chaired UNSC debate on mine action highly appreciated
The UN Security Council (UNSC) open debate on “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery”, held on April 8 under the chair of Vietnam – Council President for April, has been highly valued by the international community.
Some of the participants in the UNSC open debate, held both virtually and in person on April 8 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The UN Security Council(UNSC) open debate on “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnershipsfor better delivery”, held on April 8 under the chair of Vietnam – CouncilPresident for April, has been highly valued by the international community.
Ilene Cohn, Officer-in-Charge of the UN MineAction Service (UNMAS), told the Vietnam News Agency that Vietnam put forwardthe issue at the right point of time, expressing her delight at Vietnam, asCouncil President, choosing the unexploded ordnance (UXO) issue as the topicfor one of the main debates in April.
She noted that the meeting held great importancesince the UNSC is the body responsible for resolving issues to maintain theworld’s peace and security, especially when bombs and landmines remain threatsto people around the globe.
Cohn said Vietnam has obtained much progress inmine action, but there remains much to do for a world free of lethal weapons.
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the UN, said UXOs are always “silent killers”, buttwo new issues have emerged in recent years: the increasingly widespread use ofcontrolled improvised explosives and the use of these improvised devices toattack peacekeeping missions.
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have also madethis issue even more serious, he noted.
Quy added that the UXO issue has been rarelydiscussed at the UNSC as it was not supported by countries’ previous policies.Therefore, Vietnam’s chairing of the signature debate about mine action has metthe international community’s concern.
Sudan, one of the countries hit hard byconflicts and UXOs, also spoke highly of Vietnam’s selection of the mine actionissue for the open debate.
Chargé d’affaires Mohammed Elbahi from theSudanese mission to the UN said there remains much UXO aftermath in Sudan thathas considerably affected the country’s development process and caused muchpain for its people.
He also affirmed his country’s commitment toexerting efforts to finish the settlement of the remaining UXOs in the nearfuture.
At the meeting, the UNSC adopted a presidentialstatement viewed as “unprecedented” in four years that stresses theimplementation of the existing legal framework, particularly UNSC Resolution2365, points out new challenges, and sets up new measures the internationalcommunity needs to take to promote mine action./.
Vietnam’s 2020 chairmanship was applauded at the 14th meeting of the Steering Committee of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC), held in Phnom Penh on December 9 in the form of a video conference.
The Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Vietnam on March 23 inked a memorandum of understanding on enhancing explosive ordnance risk education.
Vietnam on April 1 began activities in its capacity as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for April, the second and last time the country has assumed the post during its 2020-2021 tenure as a non-permanent member.
The mine action sector in Vietnam is blessed with a strong and genuine partnership between the government and development partners, and the important progress made over the past few years is a clear indicator that it is indeed feasible for it to think big and make ambitious yet realistic strategies and plans to reach the finish line.
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Some of the participants in the UNSC open debate, held both virtually and in person on April 8 (Photo: VNA) 
