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Delegates and trainees at the opening ceremony |
The three-week long event is hosted by the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO) under the support of its partner of the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and Hanoi-based Office for Defense Cooperation of the U.S.
During the training course, 24 trainees from agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defense are equipped with knowledge related to military observers’ mission by 12 experienced instructors and coordinators from GPOI and VNDPKO. Participating officers, divided into groups, work in simulated U.N. peacekeeping missions and deal with situations required by instructors.
The organization of the training course amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the GPOI and VNDPKO’s quick adaptation to the current situation as well as their efforts in providing professional knowledge to personnel to better undertake peacekeeping duties in the coming time.
At the online opening ceremony, head instructor Stein Ellingsen thanked the VNDPKO for its effective coordination in preparing facilities, connecting participating forces and managing and training officers. He also took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on its successful deployment of the level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 3 to South Sudan and its officers to U.N. peacekeeping missions.
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Major General Hoang Kim Phung (left), Chief of the VNDPKO, inspecting the class |
Speaking on behalf of 24 trainees, Major Nguyen Huy Hung, staff of the Office for International Cooperation under the VNDPKO, affirmed that this is a good opportunity for trainees to enrich their knowledge and experiences, so as to well prepare themselves before duties at U.N. peacekeeping missions. He pledged that trainees will do their best to comprehend all knowledge and experience provided by instructors.
To ensure the success of the training course amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, instructors and trainees are requested to regularly test for COVID-19 and strictly observe the Health Ministry’s “5K” regulations, regulations of the steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control at all levels, and directives of Hanoi and the Prime Minister.
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Mr. Stein Ellingsen speaking at the opening ceremony |
As reported, Vietnam has hosted and co-hosted training courses with the support from GPOI since 2017. Recently, a training course for U.N. staff officers was successfully held by GPOI and VNDPKO in April.
Translated by Tran Hoai