The conference was co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, head of the Permanent Office of the National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and Toxic Chemical Consequences (Steering Committee 701) of Vietnam and Ms. Asako Okai, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Director for the Crisis Bureau.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (C) at the event |
Addressing the conference, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh held that Vietnam is among the worst war-damaged countries, as they underwent through decades of war. However, Vietnam is a symbol of tireless efforts of the people, government and of the international cooperation in overcoming war consequences. Especially, with the support of the United Nations, the UNDP, and various other countries, including those who had joined the war in Vietnam, the country has made great strides in relieving war consequences, turning itself into a safe country. The relief of war consequences in Vietnam is of not only humane, but also scientific, technological and environmental significance, and more. By actively overcoming war consequences, aims not only to ease war-left consequences, but also to realize the UN millennium goals.
He stressed, “War consequence relief means to set the past aside and open the door to future international cooperation with other countries, including those once joining the war in Vietnam.”
For her part, Ms. Asako Okai emphasized the direct connection between mine action and the realization of sustainable development goals. With support from the international community, Vietnam has gained important achievements in war consequence relief, setting a prerequisite for the realization of sustainable development goals and the Agenda 2030. However, there still remains much for Vietnam to do to reach the UN millennium goals.
UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen highlighted the achievements in the cooperation between Vietnam and UNDP in the field and the connection between mine action and sustainable development goals. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has also supported Vietnam in carrying out mine action in a comprehensive approach, including study, detection, education of the risks of UXO (unexploded ordnance), support for UXO victims. She stressed that Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces in Vietnam now have cleaned 20,000 hectares of once-UXO-contaminated land for socio-economic development. UNDP also pledged to continue its support for UXO victims in Vietnam and for the country’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
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Delegates are watching a documentary on war consequence relief by Vietnam |
Presentations of Vietnam at the conference focused on peace restoration and efforts of Vietnam in dealing with the UXO and Agent Orange/dioxin consequences and on Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations. They stressed that war consequences remain severe and war consequence relief activities are always paid special attention to by the government and people of Vietnam. The top priority of the country in this field is to protect its people and clean the environment for sustainable socio-economic development.
On the sidelines of the conference, Steering Committee 701 and UNDP displayed images featuring achievements in UXO consequence relief in Vietnam and activities of Vietnamese UN peacekeepers.
* Earlier on the day, at the headquarters of the UN in New York, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh had bilateral meetings with UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen, UN Under Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations Jean- Pierra Lacroix, UN Under Secretary-General for Field Support Atul Khare, and Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director for the Crisis Bureau Asako Okai.
At the meetings, all the international delegates highly appreciated the efforts of Vietnam in relieving war consequences and in participating in UN peacekeeping operations. They confirmed to continue their support for Vietnam’s activities in those fields.
Translated by Huu Duong