NEW YORK — Việt Nam is concerned about the use of or threats to use force in international relations, which goes against the UN Charter and harms international peace and security, Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN, has said.
Quý was addressing a UN Security Council (UNSC) videoconference Arria-formula meeting on Wednesday themed 'Upholding the collective security system of the UN Charter: the use of force in international law, non-state actors and legitimate self-defence' with the participants of nearly 30 member countries of the UN Security Council and the UN.
He stressed that all countries are obliged to build friendly relations and form a culture of upholding the UN Charter and international law as well as abiding by principles in sovereignty and territorial integrity, not interfering into internal affairs of other states, not using or threatening to use force, and dealing with disputes peacefully.
The diplomat said that the UNSC should work to enhance the observance of international law and promote the role of international law and the UN Charter as a vital tool to maintain international peace and security, while increasing its co-ordination with regional organisations and international legal agencies in coping with disputes, maintaining peace and preventing conflicts.
Quý underlined the need to avoid the abuse and re-explanation of the UN Charter, suggesting the UNSC continues to create favourable conditions for countries to get access to the affairs and documents of the council to promote open and transparent discussions.
Noting that this topic has been mostly discussed among scholars, Naz Modirzadeh, Director of the Harvard Law School Programme on International Law and Armed Conflict, said all countries are authorised and responsible for building international law, including the responsibility to protect the principle of not using force.
She proposed all countries actively engage in open discussions on the theory of the rights to self-defence and improve the capacity to get access to announcements and discussions at the UNSC in the field.
Participants at the event underlined the principle of not using or threatening to use force, which is a foundation for the collective security system in line with the UN Charter and the UNSC's function in maintaining international peace and security.
They said the only exception is the case that is allowed by the UNSC or to implement the right to self-defence. They called for the upholding of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and stability while exchanging ideas on the explanation and application of Article 51 of the UN Charter on the legal basis for the use of force as a means of self-defence, as well as on the situation in specific countries and regions. — VNS