STATEMENT

BY H.E. AMBASSADOR LE HOAI TRUNG

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF VIET NAM TO THE UNITED NATIONS

ON REVITALIZATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(AGENDA 121)

New York, 1 December 2011

 

Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to thank you for convening this important meeting on the Revitalization of the General Assembly and support the many important views presented in your statement. Viet Nam aligns itself with the statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of Algeria on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement.

Mr. President,

We are witnessing dramatic changes in the world with many challenges in the fields of peace and security, socio-economic development, climate change, food security, scarce natural and energy resources and epidemic diseases. Individually, we will not be able to cope with those challenges and therefore, at this very critical moment, international coordination and cooperation are a must, in which the United Nations should take the leading and central role. As a result, it is essential for the United Nation to reform itself to meet the needs of the changing world. And, Mr. President, the UN reforms must benefit all Member States.

Mr. President,

Democratic and comprehensive reforms of the UN, including the General Assembly, will make this organization more effective and efficient in the areas of work mandated by the Charter. The revitalization of the General Assembly must enhance the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations as well as the role of the Assembly in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international laws and the selection and appoiment of senior officers of the United Nations. The General Assembly should become the main forum for global debate, where Member States could discuss, exchange views an dialogue with each other and make decisions on all issues of common concern, especially regarding peace, security and development, including, inter alia, the peaceful solutions to disputes and conflicts, responsible behavior and respect for international laws in the interests of each and all Member States. As such, the revitalization of the General Assembly should be a political process through intergovernmental negotiations with full commitment and good-will of all Member States. To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Assembly we need to discuss the strengthening of the Office of the General Assembly, including its institutional memory and working methods. The revitalization of the General Assembly should also go in parallel with reforms of other UN organs and agencies, such as to enhance the over-arching role of  ECOSOC in the development sphere, and to enlarge Security Council membership and improve its working methods and the role of the Secretary General. The relationship between UN principle organs must be strengthened, especially the importance of ensuring cooperation, coordination and exchange of information between the General Assembly, the Security Council and the ECOSOC.

In this regard, Viet Nam highly appreciates the efforts of the Adhoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly in preparing document A/65/909 of 1 August 2011. Viet Nam supports the work of the Adhoc Working Group in the Sixty-sixth Session. To improve its efficiency, Viet Nam suggests that the Co-Chairs might take the roles as Coordinators to bridge the differences between Member States, and organize separate meetings with different groups of Member States to promote mutual understanding among these groups. At the same time, Viet Nam calls upon Member States to work in a cooperative, problem – solving spirit in order to get closer to a breakthrough and achieve concrete results in this Sixty-sixth Session.

I thank you Mr. President