Vietnam, 1993

On

behalf of the delegation of the Socialist Republic of Viet

Nam, I should like to extend to Ambassador Insanally warm

congratulations on his election to the presidency of this

forty-eighth session of the General Assembly.

We regard highly the vast efforts made and positive

achievements attained by His Excellency the

Secretary-General, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in his

position of lofty responsibility, towards the cause of peace,

international security, development and cooperation among

nations. In April of this year it was with warmth and high

esteem, and moved by a desire to enhance Viet Nam’s

cooperation with the United Nations, that our Government

and people welcomed the Secretary-General in our country.

We wish to congratulate the new Members of our

United Nations family.

In the year since the previous session of our General

Assembly, the world has offered us a chiaroscuro picture of

opportunities intermingled with challenges, of hopes mixed

with anxieties. The threat of a global war of annihilation

continues to recede, and we are witnessing an increasing

trend towards dialogue and cooperation, in new forms and

through new mechanisms, in different regions and on a

world-wide scale. The progress towards restoration of peace

in a number of places, especially in Cambodia and the

12 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

Middle East, brings glad tidings to the whole world and

demonstrates that in our day and age it is still possible,

through peaceful negotiations, to settle conflicts that were

once fierce and protracted.

However, humanity’s conscience and reason remain

profoundly disturbed by the bloody conflicts which are

inflicting death and pain on peoples and provoking regional

and international instability, by potentially explosive

tendencies to increase armaments in certain parts of the

world, by the widening gap between the developed and the

developing world and by other important and pressing

problems of a global nature, such as demographic explosion,

environmental degradation, dangerous diseases, transnational

crime, and so on.

In an unstable world whose evolution is fraught with

complexities, the United Nations, while taking account of the

direct responsibility of nations concerned, is facing major

challenges in the discharge of its primary responsibility,

namely the restoration and preservation of peace and

stability. Never before has the United Nations been present

and active in so many hot spots across the continents as it is

today. In this regard the Secretary-General has given us a

comprehensive approach to the problem in his report "An

Agenda for Peace". (A/47/277)

It is the earnest desire of the people of Viet Nam that

peace, closely linked with national independence and

sovereignty, be primary components of the new world order.

We endorse the view expressed in the report of the

Secretary-General on the work of the Organization (A/48/1)

that

"States and their sovereignty are increasingly

recognized as indispensable building-blocks of

international order and problem-solving". (A/48/1,

para. 13)

Respect for the national independence, sovereignty and

identity of each country, the strengthening of international

cooperation, and the settlement of disputes through peaceful

negotiations and mutual accommodation, considering peace,

stability and cooperation to be the fundamental, long-term

interest of each State and of the international community:

all these are guiding principles in inter-State relations,

principles that the United Nations and its Member States

must respect. The Security Council is vested with the

primary responsibility for the activities of the United Nations

in respect of the restoration and safeguarding of peace. This

mission, however, devolves not solely on the Security

Council but on all nations. Member States should therefore

have a say in determining the objectives and guiding

principles for decisions and actions undertaken by the

Security Council with regard to international peace and

security. Only by so doing can the United Nations truly be

a universal Organization and a common instrument for the

community of nation-States. The principles of respect for

the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, of

non-coercion and non-interference in the internal affairs of

States, of attainment of the consent of the parties concerned,

and perseverance in the settlement of disputes through

peaceful negotiations: such are the principles that should

govern the Security Council’s decisions.

Today the world is witnessing miraculous advances in

science and technology. In that world, however, some

hundred countries and with them billions of human beings

are in danger of falling behind in the general advancement

of mankind, while the wealth and property of the world are

concentrated in the hands of a few developed countries. The

gap in development levels is steadily widening. This,

together with the accumulated external debt burden, has put

developing countries at a constant disadvantage in

North-South economic and trade relations. This reality

carries potential challenges to security and stability, both

regional and international. We should therefore fully

comprehend, now more than ever, the interrelation between

peace, security and development.

We support the proposal for the United Nations to work

out a comprehensive and effective "agenda for

development", considering the implementation of such an

agenda through enhanced resources as a fundamental factor

for the establishment of a new, sound and equitable world

order. Development programmes of the United Nations and

assistance from highly developed countries to developing

countries, especially poor countries, are undertakings which

do not benefit one side only; rather, they are necessary for

the overall stability and development of the world and the

various regions as well as of each State. We are of the view

that attaching political conditions to development assistance

and cooperation runs counter to the principle of equality and

mutual benefit of wholesome international relations.

On the other hand, poor countries hope that the rapidly

increasing cost of peace-keeping operations will not affect

the ability of the United Nations in the field of development

cooperation, and they wish to see balanced attention on the

part of the United Nations to both the Agenda for Peace and

that for development.

One important direction of the United Nations activities

that reflect the broadening attention given in this regard by

Forty-eighth session - 6 October l993 13

the international community is the promotion of democracy

and human rights. The World Conference on Human Rights

held in Vienna last June clearly pointed out the close

relationship between democracy and human rights. In our

view, one should accord equal importance to, and promote

concurrently, democracy within each country and democracy

in inter-State relations. Respect for human rights must go

together with respect for equality among States as well as

between the United Nations and Member States. The United

Nations itself needs to reform its organization and mode of

operation so as to ensure democracy, justice and equality for

all Member States.

An enlargement in the membership of the Security

Council to enhance its representativeness, the promotion of

greater transparency in the work of this body of authority

within the United Nations system, the strengthening of the

effectiveness of the General Assembly, the improvement of

the relationship among the United Nations organs, together

with perfecting the mechanisms and streamlining the

machinery to ensure better efficiency and effectiveness of

the United Nations activities - all these are urgent demands

facing us as we are approaching the fiftieth anniversary of

this Organization. Together with many other countries -

member States of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries,

in particular - Viet Nam considers human rights to be

primarily the concern and interest of each country, the

pursuit of democracy and human rights in one country to be,

first and essentially, the responsibility of that country and

nation. At the same time, States may cooperate with one

another in the promotion of democracy and human rights on

the basis of respect for national independence and

sovereignty, the right to self-determination, the right of a

nation to choose its own path of development, in accordance

with the purposes and principles set forth in the United

Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

and the two basic International Covenants on Human Rights.

We consider using imposed standards of human rights and

democracy as preconditions for inter-State cooperation to be

a manifestation of inequality and lack of democracy in

international relations.

The Vienna Conference identified areas of agreement

and at the same time revealed outstanding differences of

views on human rights. We hope that, proceeding from the

commitment to the common cause of human rights

protection and promotion, from the recognition of both the

universality and the specificity of human rights, countries

will engage in a dialogue in a spirit of mutual respect with

a view to achieving a unity of purpose in a diversity of ways

and means of implementation in the field of human rights.

The Vienna Conference also put forth recommendations

aimed at consolidating and strengthening the role and

effectiveness of the United Nations in regard to human

rights. To achieve this end, it is our view that we should

make full use of the relevant existing machinery and

mechanisms of the United Nations and enhance their

efficiency and effectiveness. Taking account of the need to

streamline its machinery, the Organization must carefully

scrutinize and weigh any initiative for the establishment of

new mechanisms.

Viet Nam is a country that has lived through protracted,

devastating wars in which the use of millions of tons of

bombs, ammunition and toxic chemicals has caused

destruction of the environment, misery, loss of life and

serious consequences for several generations now. It has

been undertaking a process of renewal, overcoming many

difficulties and challenges to achieve stability, development

and integration into the international community.

Located in the most dynamic region for development in

the world, Viet Nam has both assets and difficulties,

opportunities and challenges stemming from its specific

historical circumstances, natural conditions and its

geopolitical and geoeconomic position. We are now facing

the acute challenge of how to overcome, soon, our state of

poverty and underdevelopment, and join the mainstream of

progress in the region. The only way is to tap all domestic

resources, which, first and foremost, means bringing into full

play the dynamism and creativity of every Vietnamese, and

at the same time expanding international cooperation in

friendship with all countries based on the principle of mutual

respect for national independence and sovereignty, and on

equality and mutual benefit.

This imperative need impels us to initiate and step up

efforts towards renewal in every sphere of social life; at its

core, this is focused on a market economy and on perfecting

the rule of law in a State that is truly of the people, by the

people and for the people.

The process of renewal focuses on the economic field

with a view to developing a multisectoral economy operating

under the market mechanism, to establishing an economic

system that is open both domestically and externally, and to

improving the functions and management patterns of the

State. Under embargo conditions, and at a point where

sources of major assistance from the countries of the Council

for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) are no longer

available, the renewal process has helped Viet Nam’s

economy overcome the most difficult hurdle and end the

recession, reduce and maintain control over inflation, achieve

average growth in gross domestic product of 7.2 per cent

14 General Assembly - Forty-eighth session

during the past three years, 1991 to 1993, accumulate

initially modest levels of domestic savings, and gradually

improve the life of the people.

Viet Nam has been attracting increasing foreign direct

investment and development assistance. On behalf of the

Government and the people of Viet Nam, I should like to

express our sincere thanks to various agencies of the United

Nations system, such as the United Nations Development

Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United

Nations Population Fund, the World Food Programme, the

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,

the World Health Organization, the United Nations Industrial

Development Organization, the Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific and others, as well as

many Governments and non-governmental organizations in

the world, for maintaining, resuming and increasing

development and humanitarian assistance to Viet Nam.

We highly appreciate the timely support extended by

the Governments of France, Japan, Sweden and other

countries, together with the international financial

institutions, for helping Viet Nam settle arrears with the

International Monetary Fund, thereby creating a

breakthrough initiation of credit assistance from international

monetary and financial institutions; such assistance is

absolutely essential for building up socio-economic

infrastructures in Viet Nam.

Our appreciation goes also to the many companies,

from nearly 50 countries, that have come to Viet Nam for

investment and business cooperation at this initial stage of

our development.

In our journey towards a dynamic and sound market

economy that is well-managed at the macroeconomic level,

and achieving healthy, rapid and sustainable growth aimed

at achieving the objectives of a prosperous nation, a strong

country and a civilized and equitable society, we still face

numerous difficulties, weaknesses and challenges. At this

juncture, increased assistance from the United Nations,

international financial institutions and non-governmental

organizations, as well as cooperation and support from

various countries, is extremely valuable and meaningful.

On the basis of the fundamental approach of having a

socio-economic development strategy up to the year 2000 in

which the human person constitutes both the end and the

driving force, Viet Nam is simultaneously carrying out

economic reforms and a step-by-step renovation of the

political system in order to promote the rights of people and

citizens’ rights, both economic and political, cultural and

social. Strenuous efforts have been made to establish the

State’s rule of law through the promulgation of the amended

Constitution of 1992, the election of the new National

Assembly Legislature, an enhancement of the power and

responsibilities of the elected organs and a stepping up of

the law-making process.

In accordance with our nation’s tradition of

humaneness, we stand for abolishing prejudice and

vengeance, and for looking towards the future. Those

previously in the ranks of our adversaries have all been freed

and given full citizens’ rights. All Vietnamese who wish for

a prosperous and strong Viet Nam, and who respect the

laws, will find a place in the great unity of the nation, even

if they are of different political opinions.

The process of renovation and the policy of universal

national unity constitute the prime mover for development in

the country and at the same time bring into full play the

potential of Vietnamese overseas to contribute to the

construction of their former homeland.

Viet Nam has concurrently deployed a foreign policy of

openness, diversifying and multilateralizing its relations of

friendly cooperation with all other countries, thus creating a

favourable international environment for our country’s

renovation and development.

In that spirit, Viet Nam has actively contributed to the

peaceful solution of the Cambodian question and has

implemented the Paris Agreements and cooperated with the

United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia. We

have established relations of good-neighbourliness with

Cambodia in the hope that Cambodia will become a country

of peace, independence, neutrality and non-alignment that

entertains friendly relations with other countries.

We wish to congratulate the new Government in

Cambodia, and stand ready, together with that Government,

to settle, jointly, any questions of mutual concern. We

express the wish that the Cambodian Government and the

United Nations will take effective measures to protect

Vietnamese residents living peacefully in Cambodia, and to

Forty-eighth session - 6 October l993 15

ensure their safety and the same rights and benefits as are

enjoyed by people from other countries who are resident in

Cambodia.

Viet Nam is sparing no effort in building up friendship

and cooperation with neighbouring countries and is

persevering in its policy of peaceful negotiations to find

satisfactory solutions to border and territorial disputes at sea

as well as on land. While working for solutions, all

concerned parties should refrain from doing anything that

further complicates the situation and from the use or threat

of use of force to settle disputes.

The fact that relations between the United States and

Viet Nam have not yet been normalized 20 years after the

end of the war is not normal nor is it in consonance with the

trend of our time. With the desire to close the book on the

past and to look to the future, Viet Nam wishes and stands

ready to normalize relations with the United States on the

basis of equality and mutual respect and without

preconditions. This would meet the aspirations and interests

of the peoples of the two countries, and would serve peace,

stability, cooperation and development in the region and

throughout the world.

Viet Nam still has tens of thousands of people missing

since the war, and their remains have yet to be found; and

millions of war victims need help. We are deeply

sympathetic towards the sentiments of American families

whose loved ones went missing in the Viet Nam war, and

have cooperated, are cooperating and will continue to

cooperate actively with the American Government and

people on the missing-in-action question. We consider this

a purely humanitarian issue.

I am confident that the goodwill and conscience of the

American and Vietnamese peoples, together with the

immediate and long-term interests of the two countries, will

soon prevail over the existing obstacles so that relations

between the two countries can be normalized.

Allow me to conclude my statement with the hope that

the United Nations will rise to the challenge of seizing the

opportunities and surmounting the challenges so that it truly

becomes an institution to which all Member States entrust

their aspirations and in which their views are heard and their

actions coordinated. For its part, Viet Nam, in its efforts

towards renewal, development and integration with the

international community, will always be a positive factor for

peace, national independence and social progress, and a

sincere and reliable cooperation partner in the region as well

as in the world.