New York(VNA) – Vietnam welcomes all efforts in organising and distributing resourcesto prevent disputes, as well as in building and maintaining peace, statedAmbassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UnitedNations.

Addressing a UNSecurity Council’s open discussion themed “Collective Action to Improve UNPeacekeeping Operations,” on March 28 in New York, the Vietnamese ambassador emphasisedthat peacekeeping activities should be reformed to improve efficiency inresponding to current complicated challenges.

She shared viewpointsof Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries and ASEAN members that peacekeepingoperations should be implemented within the framework of international law andthe UN Charter, with respect to national sovereignty and non-interference in internalaffairs of states.

The operations must beconducted with agreement of relevant parties without using forces except thepurposes of self-defence and mission implementation, he added.

Ambassador Ngaaffirmed that Vietnam will continue efforts to contribute to UN peacekeepingoperations, she noted, adding that the country is deploying a level-two fieldhospital in South Sudan.

Recognising the roleof women in peace keeping and building missions, Vietnam has sent the firstfemale officer to join peacekeeping operations and will deploy other femaleofficers when the field hospital in South Sudan is implemented, said Nga.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterrescalled on member countries to sustain their political engagement and push forpolitical solutions and inclusive peace processes, including through bilateraldiplomacy and sanctions if necessary. 

Henoted that peace operations cannot succeed if they are deployed instead of apolitical solution, rather than in support of one.  

And UN peacekeeping missions now operate in farmore dangerous, complex and high-risk environments. They are under threat fromarmed groups, criminals and terrorists, who have access to powerful modernweapons, he said, adding that UN peacekeepers are often under-equipped,under-prepared and unready for the dangerous environments in which they nowoperate.  There are gaps in command and control, in culture, in equipmentand in training.
 
Last year, the UN lost 59 peacekeepers throughmalicious acts – a sharp increase since 2016, when the figure was 34, he said.

He suggested that member states should focus our efforts inthree areas: refocusing peacekeeping with realistic expectations; makingpeacekeeping missions stronger and safer; and mobilising greater support forpolitical solutions and for well-structured, well-equipped, well-trained forces.-VNA