Vietnam elected non-permanent member of UNSC
17 Oct 2007 - In the first round of voting, Vietnam, Burkina Faso and Libya were elected to the non-permanent member seats. Two seats for the groups of Eastern European and Caribbean Latin American countries had to be re-voted as candidates did not win two-thirds of voting. At the main hall of the General Assembly, representatives of many countries warmly congratulated the Vietnamese representative on the event.
Vietnam will officially begin work in the Council from January 1, 2008, replacing Qatar, representing Asian countries, which will conclude its term on December 31, 2007. Six weeks before that dates, the Vietnamese representative and his counterparts from other newly-elected member countries will be permitted to attend all sessions of the council as observers.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung
Becoming one of the 15 members of the most important agency of the largest international organisation is a great honour that also comes along with a heavy responsibility.
Vietnam will well perform the duties of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to be worthy to the trust of the international community.
Becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council is an opportunity for us to improve the position and the image of a peace-loving Vietnam, with effective participation and contribution to the struggling of the human for peace, national independence, prosperity, democracy and social progress.
A non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is responsible to take a full part in the process of drafting and building the Council’s important decisions pertaining to the most important issues relating to peace and security in various regions and the world as a whole.
To fulfill the task, Viet Nam will also adhere to the guidelines, goals, and principles of the UN Charter, international law in addition to actively asking for consultancy from and cooperating closely with other UN Security Council members to give out appropriate policies for the sake of the legitimate interests of all UN member countries.
Head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, Le Luong Minh
We have prepared for ten years to participate in the UN Security Council. since mid-1990s, we set the policy of promoting integration process, including the participation in multilateral organisations, especially the UN, the global largest institution.
In the past ten years, we have prepared internally and externally, with reforms of our legal system to serve the integration, the accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), creat favourable conditions for Vietnam’s participation in the UN Security Council.
For the Vietnamese mission to the UN, we have finalised the system of documents related to the issues that the US Security Council has to discuss and solve and strengthen our personnel. We have also exchanged experience with member nations of the UN and other members of the UN Security Council to ensure that we can well participate in operations of the Council.
Contributing to the common efforts to ensure international peace and security is protecting peace and strengthen national peace and security so becoming a member of the UN Security Council is a very important landmark for each member country of the UN.
The first US Ambassador to Vietnam, Peter Peterson
Joining the UN Security Council is a step in a progressive process. It proves that Vietnam has really been mature in the UN, where there are many complicated issues that require fine ways of settlement. Vietnam has had suitable experience to assume this position.
The membership of the UN Security Council will surely help improve the leadership of Vietnam in the world, not only in the region. That membership will also assist Vietnam to have voice in important international issues related to international peace, stability and security.
Dr. David Koh, Southeast Asian Research Institute (Singapore)
This will be a difficult turn of study but the final result means that Vietnam’s better adaptation to the way of working of the UN system and big countries to ensure national security.
To contribute to peace, security and development, becoming a member of the UN Security Council is not enough. Vietnam should step out to the world to share its experience in war and development with the world.
Nguyen Trung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand
There will surely have thorny matters of world peace and security requiring Vietnam to have sound viewpoints and a firm stuff to surmount pressure of anybody or any circumstance to raise a right voice. Intelligence and firm stuff are indispensable!