Ambassador highlights Vietnam's stance in disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations

“It is Vietnam’s consistent policy to advocate total disarmament and non-proliferation, with the highest priority given to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)”, Ms Nga said

at the debate of the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security in New York on October 2-10.

Vietnam is a party to and fully complies with its obligations under all key WMD disarmament and non-proliferation treaties, she added.

The Ambassador highlighted that the country has worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international partners to ensure nuclear safety and security, including the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Biological Weapons Convention, Chemical Weapons Convention, the IAEA Safeguards Agreement and its Additional Protocol, and the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon Free-Zone.

Vietnam also implements relevant UN Security Council resolutions and participates in related initiatives, including the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and the Proliferation Security Initiative, she said.

The diplomat stressed that as a country suffering from cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnances left from wars, Vietnam is actively implementing the 2010-2025 Plan of Action for demining and victim assistance.

“We support the humanitarian objectives of relevant international mechanisms to help affected countries address the aftermath of war, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Anti-personnel Landmines Convention”, Nga said.

She took the occasion to thank all international partners who have supported Vietnam and called for more assistance from the international community in the field, especially in disarming bombs and mines and supporting victims.

“It is of the utmost importance to uphold multilateralism as the core principle of negotiations, as the only efficient and rule-based approach in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter, as well as the effective tool for building trust among countries”, she stressed.

During the debate, regional representatives, including those from the Non-Aligned Movement and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed their concerns over the increasing proliferation of nuclear weapons and the sluggish disarmament of nuclear countries.

They also underlined the rights of each country in researching, developing, producing and using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.