Vietnam, 2009

On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, I

wish to congratulate you, Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, on

your election as President of the General Assembly at

its sixty-fourth session. I believe that with your rich

experience, you will lead the Assembly at this session

to great success. Viet Nam commends you, Sir, for the

theme you proposed for this high-level general debate,

namely, effective responses to global crises —

strengthening multilateralism and dialogue among

civilizations for international peace, security and

development.

I further wish to express our high appreciation to

His Excellency Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann for

his contributions to the work of the General Assembly

at its sixty-third session.

The year since the Assembly’s sixty-third session

has not been a long span of time, yet it has been

characterized by the many challenges it brought to the

entire international community. Every part of the world

has suffered from the negative and far-reaching

impacts of the global financial crisis and economic

downturn. That further aggravates the challenges in

terms of food security, energy security and climate

change facing developing countries in particular. In the

meantime, tension and conflicts persist in various

regions, and the threats of the proliferation of weapons

17 09-52470

of mass destruction and of international terrorism

continue to demand effective responses.

Because of all this, the past year has also

witnessed enormous efforts on the part of the

international community, both in thinking and in

action, not only to address the immediate problems but

also to create a more sustainable foundation for

common peace and prosperity. In due course, nations

have been able to draw valuable lessons on governance

over domestic development and to gain a fuller

understanding of the meaning of multilateral

cooperation. It is evident that no single country could

respond to the financial and economic crisis and to the

series of current global challenges. It is equally evident

that policies and measures of imposition and unilateral

use of force to address international security and

political issues would only result in more tension,

confrontation and impasse.

Given the many difficulties at the present time,

we are encouraged by recent positive — although not

solid — signals from the world economy. The first

summit of the Security Council on nuclear

non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament has

highlighted the question of disarmament on the

international agenda. Viet Nam recognizes the active

contributions of the United Nations and the Secretary-

General in the furtherance of discussions on and direct

support for the implementation of concrete measures in

relation to issues of international concern. In this

connection, Viet Nam hopes that this Assembly will

focus its deliberations on the following issues.

Respect for the fundamental principles of

international law and the United Nations Charter in

international relations is the determining factor for

peace and security and a prerequisite for all the

activities undertaken by the international community.

On that basis, the United Nations should continue to

make active contributions to easing tension and

peacefully resolving outstanding disputes and conflicts,

including those relating to the Democratic People’s

Republic of Korea and Iran.

It is Viet Nam’s hope that early progress will be

made in the negotiations for a peaceful,

comprehensive, just and lasting solution in the Middle

East on the basis of ensuring the fundamental national

rights of the Palestinian people and the legitimate

interests of all parties concerned. We fully support the

national reconciliation and reconstruction process in

Afghanistan and Iraq and strongly condemn terrorist

acts against civilians in those countries and in other

places in the world. We oppose the unilateral use of

economic sanctions against developing countries and

support the General Assembly resolutions on the

necessity of immediately ending the economic,

commercial and financial embargo imposed against

Cuba.

An effective and comprehensive response to

today’s economic and financial crisis is the top concern

of the international community. In the immediate term,

that includes urgent measures to curb the pace of the

downturn, encourage an early recovery of the world

economy and minimize the negative impacts of the

crisis, particularly on the realization of the Millennium

Development Goals in developing countries.

In the long run, the response will embrace

considerations of development paradigms suitable for

individual nations and reforms of the international

system of economic relations, which has for quite a

while shown many irrationalities. It is also imperative

to promote the role of the United Nations in designing

international strategies and mechanisms to address the

energy and food crisis, pandemics and climate change,

including issues to be discussed at the Climate Change

Conference in Copenhagen this December.

The United Nations reform process should also

continue to meet the emerging, complex requirements.

Viet Nam shares the common view that reform should

be undertaken in all United Nations agencies, with

Security Council reform conducted in such a way as to

broaden its representation and render its operational

methodology more democratic and transparent. Efforts

to reform the machinery should go hand in hand with

efforts to renew content and to pay due attention to the

balance among the fields of activity of the United

Nations. United Nations operations should also be

provided with sufficient resources.

Next year, Member States will commemorate the

sixty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, while

also reviewing the Organization’s activities and the

10-year implementation of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs). To prepare the ground

for recommendations to be submitted to the leaders of

Member States at the sixty-fifth session, we need to

discuss what lessons can be drawn from United

Nations activities in all spheres, what activities should

be prioritized and what conditions are necessary for the

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Organization fully to carry out its mandates and

functions in the interest of all nations.

In the recent past, Viet Nam has continued to

record major achievements in the process of renewal,

in general, and initial positive gains in response to the

impact of the global economic and financial crisis, in

particular. We have also been successful in our foreign

policy, which is based on openness and strives to

diversify and ensure the multilateral character of our

external relations in the spirit of being a friend and

reliable partner of all nations and an active,

constructive, cooperative and responsible member of

the international community.

As a non-permanent member of the Security

Council, we have been an active participant in and an

effective and responsible contributor to the

maintenance of world peace and security. As a peace-

loving nation, Viet Nam always strongly supports and

contributes to the peaceful settlement of international

disputes and conflicts, the fight against transnational

crime and international terrorism, and the promotion of

disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of

mass destruction. As a country that experienced

decades of war with devastating consequences,

including the long-term effects of the Agent Orange

toxic chemical, and as a country that has made

important achievements in development, Viet Nam has

always striven towards the effective Security Council

action in supporting reconstruction efforts in countries

emerging from conflict.

In its work, Viet Nam sets high store by

consultation and cooperation with other members of

the Security Council and the United Nations, as shown

by our initiative to consult Member States on the latest

annual report of the Security Council. I would like to

take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude

and appreciation to all Member States for their

cooperation, without which Viet Nam would not have

accomplished this undertaking.

In the future, Viet Nam will continue to work

actively for world peace, stability, cooperation and

development, thus contributing to efforts of the United

Nations and the international community in

accelerating the resolution of social issues and global

challenges, as well as the implementation of

development programmes and the Delivering as One

initiative.

This session of the General Assembly is taking

place at a crucial juncture. During 2009, the world has

witnessed many significant changes, which have

demanded corresponding policy decisions from us. I

believe that only by standing shoulder to shoulder to

enhance multilateral cooperation can we, as

responsible leaders, meet the expectations and

aspirations of our peoples and map out a path for the

long-term development of the United Nations. Viet

Nam will always be a supportive, active and

responsible participant in this noble mission.