Vietnamese Ambassador Le Luong Minh called upon the United Nations, regional organisations and the international community to continue to assist the Government of Sierra Leone to overcome difficulties, promote socio-economic reconstruction and strengthen the international integration process.

At a UN Security Council meeting on Sierra Leone in New York on May 7, Ambassador Minh, Vietnamese Representative to the UNSC appreciated Sierra Leone’s initial progress in the process of peace consolidation and socio-economic reconstruction, partially reflected by the overall stable security situation, the enhanced dialogue with countries of the Mano River Union to resolve issues of mutual interest and the comprehensive preparations for the July 5 local council elections.

He also praised the Soerra Leone Government’s sustained efforts to improve priority domains such as energy and water supply, transportation, employment, economic revival, social services delivery and capacity-building.

Ambassador Minh said that Vietnam shared the Secretary General’s concerns about the unresolved political tension along ethnic and regional lines, widespread corruption, the high numbers of unemployed youth, the illicit movement of small arms, human trafficking and smuggling and illegal trade in natural resources, as well as poor economic and social conditions exacerbated by the rising prices of food commodities and gasoline.

The Ambassador welcomed the continued co-operation between Sierra Leone and the Peacebuilding Commission and other development partners to implement the targets as set in the Peacebuilding Co-operation Framework.

He said: “An optimal solution to UN’s future presence should be decided based on the specifics of local conditions, the close consultations with the Government of Sierra Leone, the Peacebuilding Commission and other regional stakeholders, and the due respect for the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sierra Leone.” (VNA)