Ambassador Phạm Hải Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN. — VNA/VNS Photo

NEW YORK — Việt Nam has voiced concerns about the situation in Great Lakes countries in Africa and emphasised a need to address the root causes of instability.

Ambassador Phạm Hải Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN, upheld the role of regional cooperation and hailed efforts made to promote relations between Great Lakes countries recently during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held on Wednesday (local time) to adopt a presidential statement on the Great Lakes.

He said the humanitarian situation remains worrisome, especially in eastern Congo.

He expressed his concern over the plight of millions of displaced people and refugees, as well as the more than 27 million people in Congo that face crisis‑level food insecurity. 

In that context, he encouraged the further intensification of cooperation to implement the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework, to strengthen the management of natural resources and to tackle threats posed by armed groups.

The meeting was held under the chair of Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya and Council President for October Raychelle Omamo.

They adopted a Presidential Statement calling on relevant sides to continue commitments to implementing the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for Congo and the Region endorsed by 13 signatory countries, the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, the Southern African Development Community and the UN.

The document also touched upon challenges and demand for stronger cooperation, notably in reducing the criminal exploitation of natural resources, improving the humanitarian situation and responding to the impacts of COVID-19.

It underscored the central role of regional cooperation and the significance of support from the international community and the UN for stability and development.

Việt Nam welcomes formation of Lebanon’s new government

Nguyễn Phương Trà, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations (UN), welcomed the formation of a new government and hoped that it will make efforts to carry out necessary reforms to bring the country out of the current crisis.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s meeting on the implementation of the council’s Resolution 1559 related to the Lebanese situation on Wednesday, Trà appreciated international efforts led by France and the UN to support the Lebanese people, while calling on the relevant authorities of Lebanon to make efforts to strengthen the confidence of the international community, including speeding up the investigation on the explosion in Beirut in August 2020, and urging the parties involved to exercise restraint and avoid any actions and statements that increase tensions.

She also called on relevant parties to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Khaled Khiari assessed there has been almost no progress in the implementation of Resolution 1559 in recent times, as Lebanon continues to face many challenges, including unstable socio-economic situation, increasing poverty and unemployment rates, and violations of sovereignty.

Adopted in 2004, Resolution 1559 called for the disarmament of all militias and the extension of government control over all Lebanese territory. — VNS