The deployment of the L2FH No.1 of Vietnam in the coming time to UNMISS has reaffirmed the country’s responsible and active role in the international community’s shared mission of restoring and maintaining peace. It will also help further beautify the images of Vietnam and the Vietnam People’s Army in the world.
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A Vietnamese officer (C) undertaking mission at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (also called MINUSCA). Photo: vnpkc.gov.vn |
Since May 2014, Vietnam has sent 27 officers to two UN peacekeeping missions in the Republic of South Sudan and the Central African Republic. In doing so, the country has contributed its part to international peace and stability. The Vietnamese officers sent to the missions have undertaken the positions of military observers, as well as liaison, staff, and logistic officers. They were also ready to undertake other missions assigned by the United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Many of the participating Vietnamese officers were presented with UN peacekeeping orders and highly appreciated by the UN peacekeeping missions’ commanders as well as staff from other countries working at the missions for their excellent task performances.
During his visit to Vietnam in 2015, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed that he could only say the word “Wonderful!” when talking about Vietnamese peacekeepers.
Not only sending individual officers to UN peacekeeping missions, Vietnam has also decided to send its military units, and the first one is its L2FH No.1, which will be deployed to UNMISS in the coming time. By now, the hospital has completed all preparations for the deployment and all the 69 staff members of the hospital together with its equipment are ready for departure to the mission.
At present, Vietnam is actively preparing for the deployment of its military engineer company and some other units to UN peacekeeping missions, after the L2FH No.1, in 2019 and the following years. Vietnam is studying and may decide to send its troops to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.
Vietnam has recently been recognized by the UN as a training center for UN peacekeeping forces in the Southeast Asian region. The selection was made after a series of UN field studies to Vietnam and other ASEAN countries. Vietnam has eventually met the high standards set by the UN.
This decision has demonstrated that the UN has highly valued Vietnam’s commitments to shared loads of the international community as well as the results of its participation in UN peacekeeping operations over the past time.
The increasingly active and effective engagement of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations has contributed to affirming Vietnam’s efforts in implementing international duties in an important area of operations of the UN. Vietnam is truly an active and responsible member of this biggest multilateral organization.
For troops, joining UN peacekeeping missions is implementing not only a mission of the military, but also an international duty. Therefore, it is a special mission with honor and also high responsibility that requires great efforts. Apart from promoting the self-resilient spirit of the country, Vietnam has also taken advantage of the support from other countries, such as the United States, China, Australia, India, etc.
The increasingly expanded participation of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations has contributed to fulfilling one of the contents of the scheme “The Vietnam People’s Army’s joining UN peacekeeping operations in the 2014-2020 period” of the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defense. It also contributes to the successful implementation of the Party’s policy of active and proactive participation in multilateral security and defense mechanisms.
However, UN peacekeeping operations are new to Vietnam; therefore, there are a lot of difficulties, requiring adjustment and supplement of the current laws and regulations to facilitate troops to operate in a multilateral environment at UN peacekeeping missions.
In that context, the results from the participation of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations which have been highly appreciated by the UN are very encouraging. Those initial successes have contributed to affirming Vietnam’s strong determination in shouldering this noble mission. This has also proven the increasing prestige and position of Vietnam in the international arena, its wider and deeper international integration in different areas, including defense-security.
Deputy Defense Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh once stressed, “Participation in UN peacekeeping operations is one form of protecting the country from a distance.”
Translated by Huu Duong