Vietnam assumes UNSC chair

Vietnam took its seat as the rotating chair of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on July 1 to coordinate all the UNSC’s activities for a month.

In this new position, Vietnam will draft a tentative working agenda for the UNSC and preside over its sessions while representing the organisation in relations with other UN members, international organisations and the media. It will coordinate with other UNSC members to prepare the council’s yearly report on its activities based on the 60-point agenda.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem is scheduled to head a Vietnamese delegation and attend a number of the UNSC’s activities and preside over a high-level open debate in line with the council’s July agenda.

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Vietnam’s permanent representative to the UNSC, says the country will contribute to the council’s decisions in the legitimate interests of member countries and other relevant agencies.

“Vietnam is committed to contributing to the settlement of conflicts through dialogue and peaceful negotiations and with respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries,” says Mr Minh.

Representatives from member countries have expressed their belief that Vietnam will be able to make great strides in this role particularly in promoting peace and conflict resolutions.

The Russian ambassador to Vietnam Vadim ViktorovichSerafimov says that over the past six months in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UNSC, Vietnam has made active contributions to tackling regional and global issues, showing its responsibility towards the international community. The country has performed its role well for the sake of peace, stability and development, meeting the aspirations of all nations.

Meanwhile, British ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent says that the UK and Vietnam have regularly held talks at the UNSC concerning global issues at different levels. Even though the two countries do not always take a similar stance on some issues, all the talks have been conducted in a frank and constructive manner.

According to the ambassador, assuming the chair of the UNSC is an honour but also a challenging task for Vietnam. This requires the country to promote its role as a mediator to reach a consensus amongst all the members of the UNSC.

So far this year, Libya, Panama, Russia, South Africa, the UK and the US have chaired the UNSC.

Vietnam became a UN Security Council non-permanent member on January 1 this year for the 2008-09 term.