Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam supports
and appreciates the role of the ASEAN Chair in connecting with all stakeholders
in finding a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Myanmar situation, as
well as the bloc’s efforts to promote humanitarian relief in the country and
the repatriation process in Rakhine State, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh
Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has said.
Addressing the UN Security Council’s Arria-formula meeting
on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar on May 19 (local time), Thoa stressed
that the process of solving the situation in Myanmar must be controlled and led
by the country itself.
Relevant parties in the nation must fully and effectively
implement the ASEAN-agreed Five-Point Consensus, end violence, ensure
humanitarian and healthcare access for all, and create a favourable environment
to promote dialogue and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, the international community needs to strengthen
cooperation with ASEAN and UN agencies in coordinating humanitarian relief
activities to ensure that relief goods reach needy people, especially women and
children, while ensuring respect for Myanmar’s sovereignty, independence,
territorial integrity and unity, she said.
Regarding the situation of Rakhine State, the Vietnamese representative
spoke highly of the recent initiative to start repatriation in the state
through a pilot project, demonstrating a proactive approach in finding long-term
solutions to the current situation. She called on the international community
to increase financial support and coordinate to find a sustainable solution to issue.
In the face of heavy consequences and human losses caused by Cyclone
Mocha, Thoa sent deep condolences and expressed sympathies to the people of
Myanmar. As an active member of the UN and ASEAN, Vietnam continues to promote
dialogue and reconciliation and narrow differences in order to assist Myanmar
in reaching a solution to the current situation.
Speaking at the meeting, representatives of many countries raised
concerns over the situation in Myanmar, condemning the use of force against
civilians as well as the attack on a convoy of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre
for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and the ASEAN
Monitoring Team in Myanmar.
They emphasised the need for a ceasefire and an end to
violence, and to avoid the escalation of the situation, ensure humanitarian and
healthcare access for all, observe international humanitarian law, protect
civilians, and address differences and differences through dialogue and reconciliation
in accordance with aspirations of the Myanmar people./.