Vietnamese Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN. —VNA/VNS Photo 

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam supports the reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to ensure representation, democracy, transparency and efficiency, said Vietnamese Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnamese mission to the United Nations.

Addressing the 27th plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on November 16-17 on UNSC reform, Quý stressed Việt Nam’s support for an increase in the number of UNSC permanent and non-permanent members in order to ensure fair representation of regional groups, especially for underrepresented groups and developing countries.

He underlined the need to take into account the role and contributions of countries in maintaining international peace and security when considering the selection of new members.

The intergovernmental negotiations (IGN) needs to focus on the UN's long-term goals and visions, he said, noting that negotiations should be sincere and mutually respectful while trying to find common ground to promote negotiations towards gaining extensive support on this important issue.

Participants at the event agreed that it is necessary to promote ING in order to speed up the reform of UNSC in a practical manner.

The reform of UNSC focuses on five clusters, including the question of the use of the veto power, categories of membership, regional representation, size and working methods, and the relationship between the UN General Assembly and UNSC.

Since its founding in 1945, the UNSC has undergone the first reform in 1965 with the number of non-permanent members increasing from six to 10. The UN General Assembly passed Resolution 47/62 to initiate discussion on the UNSC reform in 1998, and Decision No. 62/557 on IGN in 2008 to begin discussion in detail on this topic.

Lebanon support

Ambassador Quý has called on the international community and UN organisations to continue support for Lebanon.

Attending the United Nations Security Council’s meeting on Tuesday (US time), the Vietnamese diplomat stressed the significant role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in assuring security and stability in the region.

He wished the Lebanese leaders would soon establish a government to guide the nation to overcome the crisis.

The UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, was set up in 1978 to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and restore international peace and security. Its mandate had to be adjusted twice, due to developments in 1982 and 2000.

Following the 2006 crisis, the UNSC enhanced the force and decided that in addition to the original mandate, it would monitor the cessation of hostilities, support the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy throughout the southern region, and extend its assistance to help ensure humanitarian access to civilian populations and the voluntary and safe return of displaced persons.

In August, the UNSC adopted Resolution 2539 extending the UNIFIL’s mandate until August 31, 2021. — VNS