Allow me
first to congratulate you, Sir, on your election as
President of the General Assembly at its sixty-third
session. I am confident that you will ably guide our
session to a great success. I would also like to
commend His Excellency Mr. Srgjan Kerim for his
important contribution to the work of the Assembly at
its sixty-second session.
While the trend of peace, cooperation and
development continues to prevail, there have been
complex developments in the world over the past year.
Local conflicts endure, acts of terrorism still occur in
many parts of the world and new tensions have
emerged in Europe, including in the Balkans and the
Caucasus. At the same time, the world is experiencing
the most severe economic uncertainties since the 1997-
1998 financial crisis, together with new challenges
such as climate change and the food and energy
security crises. More than ever, the current situation
compels nations to promote dialogue and cooperation
to surmount common challenges, both man-made and
natural.
Viet Nam supports efforts to end violence in
Afghanistan and Iraq.
We should also work to facilitate further progress
in the search for lasting peaceful solutions to the
nuclear issues on the Korean peninsula and Iran on the
basis of due respect both for the legitimate rights of
States to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes and for the regime of non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons.
In follow-up to the Annapolis outcome, I wish to
reaffirm Viet Nam’s support for the role of the Quartet,
the League of Arab States, regional countries and the
United Nations, especially the Security Council, in the
quest for a lasting solution in the Middle East. Such a
solution should respect the inalienable rights of the
Palestinian people, including their right to establish an
independent State of their own, and the principle of
land for peace.
As leaders of the world gathered here to discuss
the development needs of Africa, we were keenly
aware of the organic relationship between peace and
development. Viet Nam undertakes to work closely
with the United Nations and the African Union to find
peaceful solutions to the conflicts and disputes that still
rage on the continent.
New uncertainties are unfolding in the global
economic and financial situation. Climate change and
energy and food shortages are becoming more and
more serious global issues. In the face of that situation,
it is essential to enhance international cooperation to
overcome these problems. In that regard, developed
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countries should take measures to maintain their
macroeconomic and financial stability and implement
international commitments to improve international
economic relations and the transfer of technology. Such
cooperation is possible and effective only when due
regard is given to each country’s specific conditions,
legitimate concerns and interests.
Given the complex developments in the world,
the United Nations has a greater role to play in saving
humankind from the scourge of war and in finding
solutions to problems. The United Nations must be
strengthened to that end. Democratic and
comprehensive reform of the United Nations —
including the General Assembly, the Security Council,
the Economic and Social Council and the specialized
agencies — will make the Organization more effective
and efficient in the areas of work mandated by the
Charter. Viet Nam will continue to contribute to efforts
aimed at making the United Nations more democratic,
more effective and more responsive to the needs of the
peoples of the world.
In Viet Nam, the Government is working with
United Nations agencies and other development
partners to implement the One UN initiative. We hope
and believe that the experiences of Viet Nam and the
United Nations in implementing that pilot reform
programme will be useful to other aid recipient
countries and to the United Nations reform process
overall.
In line with its foreign policy of independence,
sovereignty, peace, cooperation and development and
its efforts to deeply engage with the world, Viet Nam
has seriously observed its commitments and actively
participated in addressing global issues. We strongly
support the Bali Road Map, which aims to establish the
legal framework for international cooperation in
addressing climate change beyond 2012. Despite
natural disasters and epidemics, Viet Nam is honouring
its commitments to maintain the volume of its rice
exports at 4 million tons annually. We intend to
continue those efforts to ease the pressures caused by
the rising price of food and to preserve food security.
The year 2008 marks the first time that Viet Nam
has assumed responsibilities as a non-permanent
member of the Security Council. In its desire to make
greater contributions to the maintenance of
international peace and security, Viet Nam has
participated in the work of the Council as a
constructive and responsible member. We shall
continue to uphold the principles enshrined in the
Charter while working with other Council members
and Members of the United Nations to find solutions
that serve the interests of international peace and
security and the legitimate interests of all countries and
parties concerned.
In the 63 years since its establishment, the United
Nations has traversed numerous upheavals of history
and acquired an increasingly significant role in
international relations. Against that backdrop, and with
trust in the power of peoples’ will and determination to
strive for peace, cooperation and development, we are
strongly confident that the international community
will overcome new challenges and that the United
Nations will continue to live up to the expectations of
all the peoples of the world.