Ambassador Minh and Vietnamese mission at the UN Security Council.

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Head of the Vietnamese mission at the United Nations, on July 2 acted as Chairman of the UN Security Council by chairing an ambassadorial meeting to consider the Council’s July agenda.

Opening the meeting, Ambassador Minh highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in internal and external policies over the past 20 years of renovation. He emphasised that the country’s non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council is evidence of its open foreign policy with a clear message of befriending and partnering the international community for peace, independence, co-operation and development.

In the new capacity, Vietnam will continue to work closely with all members of the council in all issues under the authority of the UN Security Council, vowed the Council’s new Chairman.

All the UN Security Council members pledged close co-operation with Vietnam and expressed their belief in the country’s would-be-successful mission while congratulating the country’s new role in the council.

The meeting was followed by a press briefing and another meeting presided over by the Vietnamese Ambassador to inform UN members of the Security Council’s July agenda, both had strong audiences.

Vietnam acclaimed to work as UNSC chair

Vietnam’s preparations for assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in July are appreciated by representatives from the UNSC members, Ambassador Le Luong Minh, the country’s Representative to the UNSC, has said.

In his recent interview with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent, Ambassador Minh said the Vietnamese mission, after taking over the position from the US, had a meeting with ambassadors of the UNSC member countries to pass the council’s July working agenda.

According to Ambassador Minh, the UNSC will hold an open discussion on children and armed conflict on July 17 in accordance with Vietnam’s initiative to raise the awareness and concern of not only the UNSC, but also the UN and the whole international community about this important issue.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem will chair the discussion.

Vietnam also suggested the UNSC to organise another discussion on Middle East issues on July 22.

This idea, he said, was applauded by the UNSC member countries as the region remained a “hot” issue but has not yet put under discussion despite many important events occurred in the Middle East in the recent past.

The discussion is expected to be a forum for the UN and the UNSC member countries to exchange their points of views and make recommendations for the problem.

Minh also said July is a busy month for the UNSC to make decisions concerning the mandates of UN missions, including the UN-African Union Mission in Dafur, Sudan, and the UN missions in Ethiopia/Eritrea, Cote d’Ivoire and Nepal.

Also in July, Vietnam as the UNSC chairman will complete the council’s annual report to be presented to the UN General Council. The report will review the UNSC’s activities from August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008.

Ambassador Minh said the title as the UNSC chairman would help strengthen Vietnam's position in the world arena.

He asserted Vietnam has well prepared to fulfil the task of a UNSC chairman in July to contribute more to the council’s international security and peace keeping function. (VNA)