VietNamNet Bridge - With 183 out of 190 votes, the United Nations General Assembly on October 16 elected Vietnam as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.

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 on January 1, 2008, replacing Qatar, representing Asian countries, and conclude its term on December 31, 2007. Six weeks before that date, the Vietnamese representative and his counterparts from other newly-elected member countries will be permitted to attend all sessions of the council as observers. 

Prime Minister 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 carries heavy responsibility.

Vietnam will well perform the duties of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council to be worthy of 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 promote the image of a peace-loving Vietnam, with effective participation and contribution to the human struggle for peace, national independence, prosperity, democracy and social progress.

A non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is responsible for playing 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, Vietnam 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 recommend 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 the mid 1990s, we set the policy of promoting the integration process, including participation in multilateral organisations, especially the UN, the globle’s largest institution.

In the past ten years, we have prepared internally and externally, with reforms of our legal system to serve integration, accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), creating 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 strengthening 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 matured 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 a 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 ways 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 be thorny matters of world peace and security requiring Vietnam to have sound viewpoints and firm stuff to surmount pressure of anybody or any circumstance to raise a right voice. Intelligence and firm stuff are indispensable!

PV