UN Security Council (UNSC) convenes on Monday (US time) to discuss the Syria situation. — Photo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

HÀ NỘI — The Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, Nguyễn Phương Trà, has underscored the necessity of promoting negotiations and trust building efforts among relevant parties in Syria, with active assistance from the international community.

She made the remarks at a November 15 (US time) meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to look into the situation in Syria and vote on two resolutions related to Abyei, a disputed area between Sudan and South Sudan, and Somalia.

In her speech, Trà affirmed Việt Nam’s support for a Syrian-led and -owned political process while voicing concern about the worsening humanitarian situation there due to insecurity, economic crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Việt Nam supports enhanced cooperation to maintain humanitarian aid efforts, with a focus on meeting urgent humanitarian needs in the coming winter and responding to COVID-19, the diplomat said, stressing the importance of implementing post-conflict recovery programmes and increasing livelihood support for Syrian people.

The same day, the UNSC adopted Resolution 2606 on Abyei and Resolution 2607 on the Somalia situation.

Resolution 2606, adopted with 15 votes in favour, extended the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) until December 15, 2021. The UNSC agreed on a one-month extension to have more time to discuss this force’s tasks in the coming weeks.

Resolution 2607 was approved by a vote of 13 out of 15 in favour, none against, and 2 abstentions (China and Russia). It extends the sanctions imposed on Somalia for one year, with the embargo until November 15, 2022 and the mandate of the Somalia Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts until December 15, 2022.

The UNISFA is a UN peacekeeping mission established under Resolution 1990 (2011) with the task of protecting civilians in Abyei. Meanwhile, the Somalia sanctions regime was set up under Resolution 751 (1992). — VNS