Viet Nam re-affirms support for disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

Ambassador Nguyễn Phương Trà, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations (UN) — VNA/VNS Photo

Ambassador Nguyễn Phương Trà, Deputy Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations (UN), re-affirmed Việt Nam's consistent stance on supporting all efforts towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation at the annual meeting of the UN Disarmament Commission (UNDC) in New York on Tuesday.

The Vietnamese diplomat further said that Việt Nam had fulfilled its notification obligation under Article 2 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) after the treaty officially came into force.

She also affirmed the right of the countries to research, develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Regarding the use of outer space, the ambassador welcomed the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly to establish an open-ended working group on outer space security, thereby providing recommendations on the norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours of countries in the use of the outer space.

Meanwhile, Under-Secretary-General and High-Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu emphasised the threat posed by nuclear weapons from the humanitarian and environmental perspective, saying that nothing could justify the use of weapons.

Countries should discuss the development of standards in this field in the context of more and more countries participating in the use of outer space, Nakamitsu said.

The UNDC’s meeting takes place every year with the participation of representatives from all UN member states. This year’s meeting is scheduled to last until April 22. — VNS