Vietnam reaffirms commitment to contributing to UN Special Political and Decolonisation Committee

 Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission at the UN, on October 16 reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to working with other UN member states toward the successful operation of the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee) and advancing the decolonialisation agenda.

Addressing the general debate of the Fourth Committee of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, the ambassador said Vietnam attaches great importance to the universal goal of decolonisation and the exercise of the legitimate right to self-determination of peoples under colonial and alien dominance.

“Therefore, we support the work of the UN and its institutions and agencies aimed at realising the legitimate aspirations of these peoples pursuant to the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the provisions of the UN Charter and its relevant resolution, including Resolution 1514,” he said.

The UN can play an important role to ensure that economic activities and other activities carried out by the administering powers do not negatively affect the legitimate interests of the peoples of the non-self-governing territories, he said.

Instead, the administering powers should promote the economic, cultural, social development of the peoples of the non-self-governing territories and assist them in the exercise of their inalienable rights to self-determination in accordance with the Charter of the UN and its relevant resolutions, the ambassador continued.

He said UN peacekeeping operations have played an indispensable role in the maintenance of international peace and security.

Peacekeeping missions must, first and foremost, be carried out in accordance with international law and the Charter of the UN and the basic principles of political impartiality, non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign states, consent of the parties, and non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

Peacekeeping missions serve the host countries and the people. They are the owners of their future. Therefore the missions should be tailored to best meet the needs of the countries and people, especially in the increasingly complex situation.

He also highlighted cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the UN, as well as ASEAN’s role and efforts in contributing to regional and global and security.

During the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, the Fourth Committee’s general debate from October 9-November 4 will focus on peacekeeping, special political missions, decolonisation, international cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space, effects of atomic radiation, the operation of the Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the report of Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting Human Rights of Palestinian People and Other Arabs of Occupied Territories.

Over 130 UN member countries are expected to join the general debate./.