Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam, as the rotating President of the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) for April, held a ministerial open debate on April 8, focusing on “Mineaction and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery”.

The event, held bothvirtually and in person under the chair of Vietnamese Minister of ForeignAffairs Bui Thanh Son, was attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,along with ministers, deputy ministers, ambassadors, and heads of missions ofthe UNSC member states.

Speakers at the debateincluded Director of the Geneva  InternationalCentre for Humanitarian Demining Stefano Toscano, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador actressYeoh Choo-Kheng, Manager of Project RENEW All-Women Demining Team in VietnamNguyen Thi Dieu Linh, and UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines andExplosive Hazards actor Daniel Craig.

It also sawthe presence of officials from Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and localitieshit hard by war-left explosives, along with representatives of the embassies ofUNSC member states, UN organisations, and domestic and internationalnon-governmental organisations working on unexploded ordnance (UXO) settlement.

Speaking at the debate, participantshighly valued Vietnam’s initiative to organise the event. They voiced supportfor the humanitarian purpose of limiting the use of bombs and landmines around the world and emphasisedUXO consequences in conflict zones as well as areas that used to undergoconflicts. They also advocated national and international efforts to overcomeUXO consequences, assist victims, and stabilise the situation forreconstruction and socio-economic development.

Participants highlighted the importanceof international cooperation in addressing UXO and underlined the need to enhancecohesion and coordination within the UN system, including the UNSC, so as tocontribute more to UXO settlement efforts by the UN and relevant countries.

In his remarks, Foreign Minister BuiThanh Son stressed that sustainable peace is secured only when the consequencesof wars and conflicts, including UXO consequences, are resolved.

He held that this issue needs moreattention in the UNSC agenda and shared Vietnam’s experience in this regard, includingclose attention from all-level leaders; investment in capacity building; theclose coordination among ministries, sectors, localities, and non-governmentalorganisations; along with the participation of people of all social strata, especiallywomen.

Programmes and policies need to centreon people while cooperation with international partners should be enhanced,particularly via the settlement of UXO consequences and the healing of thewounds of war, according to the official.

The minister called for closercooperation among countries to achieve more sustainable outcomes in mine action,via providing financial and technical assistance, improving capacity andawareness, and sharing experience with affected countries.

He suggested the UN and particularly theUNSC should step up measures to ensure safety for peacekeepers, protectcivilians, and promote sustainable peace.

On this occasion, the UNSC adopted itsfirst presidential statement, proposed by Vietnam, on mine action.

The statement underlined the connectionbetween UXO settlement and sustainable peace, stability, and development,affirming the UNSC’s commitment and highlighting the necessity forinternational cooperation in mine action.

It also mentioned new important issueslike impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, augmenting support for affectedcountries, establishing specialised mine action units at UN peacekeepingmissions, and taking into account special needs of women and children duringthe performance of related tasks./.