Vietnam will perform well to fulfil its great responsibility as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, worthy of the trust of the international community, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in an interview immediately after Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the Council for the 2008-09 term collecting a high number of votes from member countries.

Here is the full text of the interview:

Question: Could you elaborate on the significance of Vietnam’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term?

HE. Dung: On behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Asian nations, permanent members of the UN Security Council and other UN members for electing Vietnam to this important position.

In the wake of Vietnam’s entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the country’s becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council represents an important landmark in its process of active international integration. This affirms the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations, being a friend and a reliable partner of all countries in the international community. Such achievements are attributed to the gigantic efforts made by the entire Party and people during the past 20 years or more of implementing of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and helping to raise Vietnam’s position in the international arena.

Becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council will provide an opportunity for Vietnam to further heighten its position and image of a peace-loving country with effective contributions to humankind’s common struggle for peace, national independence, prosperity, democracy and social progress.

The event will create more confidence and pride, stimulating Vietnamese people to make a greater contribution to the process of national renewal and comprehensive development. This is of great advantage to Vietnam to become an attractive and safe business environment in the region and in the world.

Question: Becoming an UN Security Council non-permanent member is a great honour and also a heavy responsibility. Could you tell about Vietnam’s contribution to the world’s most important agency in the next two years?

HE. Dung: The UN Security Council is one of the six key agencies of the UN, which assumes the top responsibility for maintaining peace and international security. 

Accordingly, the UN Security Council can apply sanctions to resolve issues related to peace and disputes and conflicts and if necessary, it can also use coercive measures, even force to threats to peace and international security.  All UN members and non- UN members are bound by the UN Security Council’s decisions and resolutions that require them to abide by and implement.

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. A non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is responsible for fully participating in the process of drafting and building the Council’s important decisions on the most important issues related to peace and security in various regions and the world as a whole.

To fulfill the task, Vietnam will also adhere to the guidelines, goals, and principles of the UN Charter and international law as well as actively asking for consultancy from and cooperating closely with, other UN Security Council members to develop appropriate policies for the sake of the legitimate interests of all UN member countries.

We will try, together with other countries, to contribute to reducing tensions, preventing and solving disputes in the world peacefully. Vietnam supports and is willing to contribute to the complete and comprehensive disarmament process while condemning and advocating the elimination of international terrorism in all forms in accordance with international law. Vietnam welcomes and is ready to join mechanisms inside and outside the UN Security Council to promote reconstruction and development efforts in countries, which have experienced conflict. Vietnam is willing to share its experiences as a country, which experienced the reconstruction and development process with many issues solved in the post-war period, and many important achievements recorded. In the meantime, we are completing preparatory steps towards joining the UN’s peacekeeping activities effectively under its conditions and within its capacity. 

Vietnam will, together with other countries, promote multilateral cooperation with the UN and consider multilateral approach to solve common issues as a lasting and effective solution.  

We will continue to contribute to the reform process of the UN in general and the UN Security Council in particular, to strengthen the representation, efficiency and democracy of this organisation to enable it to effectively cope with the new threats and challenges of the 21st century, making a significant contribution to the common struggle of for peace, independence, nationalism, democracy and social progress in the world.  

Question: What we will do to fulfil the role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council?

HE. Dung: We have been making thorough preparations for assuming this role since we applied for it in 1997, with a lot of support from many countries. By learning from valuable experiences in conducting historic negotiations including those on the Geneva Agreement and the Paris Agreement on Vietnam, we have continued to grow through international negotiations on political, diplomatic and economic affairs, and gained experience in successfully organising big international conferences such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. However, this is a big challenge for Vietnam because it is the first time we have taken a new and heavy global task. Therefore, besides efforts to be made by the officials involved, it is necessary to have timely and comprehensive instructions and an effective apparatus along with coordination and participation of the relevant agencies as well as complete support from the entire population. 

I believe that like in previous occasion, we will fulfil this task to once again demonstrate our will and ability. (VOV)