EU and UN flag. Illustrative Photo. — Photo euneighbours.eu

HÀ NỘI — The UN Security Council on May 28 organised a video conference on EU-UN cooperation on international peace and security.

For the first time, Việt Nam and Indonesia – two ASEAN member states assuming the positions as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council – made a joint speech appreciating the pioneering role of the EU in fostering multilateralism.

Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, and Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, head of the Indonesian mission to the UN, spoke highly of the EU’s role in maintaining international security and peace.

They hoped the EU would continue coordinating with the UN in addressing conflicts, mediating, providing humanitarian relief, and boosting multilateralism on the basis of the UN Charter’s principles.

The two diplomats also took the occasion to highlight ASEAN’s contributions to building a peaceful and prosperous Southeast Asia, and creating a favourable environment to together with partner countries build trust, consolidate preventive diplomacy, minimise differences, and intensify engagement in issues of mutual concern.

They called on regional organisations, including the EU and ASEAN, to work together to improve the UN’s cooperation activities, such as the EU supporting the improvement of ASEAN member states’ UN peacekeeping missions.

At the event, Josep Borrell, High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, affirmed his backing for the rules-based international order, with the UN at its core.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 is a test for our humanity, but also for the multilateral system itself,” said Borrell. “This crisis demonstrates that global challenges require collective action. Climate change, COVID-19: these are not problems that any country can solve on its own."

UN Security Council member states all showed their support for the EU-UN cooperation, while stressing the EU’s role in solving issues related to international security and peace at hot spots, especially in Africa, the Middle East and Balkans. — VNS