Italian experts commend Vietnamese maritime security initiatives
VOV.VN - Italian scholars have expressed their great appreciation for a range of initiatives put forward by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the UN Security Council (UNSC)’s recent high-level open debate on maritime security.
In an interview with Vietnam News Agency, Prof. Giuseppe Cataldi, president of the International Association for the Law of the Sea, noted the importance of the country’s call for increasing dialogue, co-operation, and respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. (UNCLOS).
UNCLOS should therefore be considered as the "Constitution" of seas and oceans, and countries need to abide by the provisions of this original legal document in order to avoid unilateral actions that risk escalating tensions in ongoing international maritime disputes, said Prof. Cataldi, who is also vice president of the University of Naples’ L'Orientale.
Meanwhile, Dr. Antonio Albanese, world geopolitics expert and director of AGC Communication SRL in Italy, noted the Vietnamese proposals not only show universality in a global context, but also contribute to promoting a substantive approach to solving specific regional issues.
Vietnam has affirmed its support for ensuring maritime security based on clear and consistent rules within the UN’s framework which are being concretised into a common code of conduct, an important goal that members of ASEAN are trying to meet, he added.
According to the expert, the country’s stance on resolutely opposing any unilateral actions and openly seeking multilateral peaceful solutions represents an option that suits the interest of every state actor, while simultaneously ensuring equal access for all countries, especially in the fields of international trade and navigation.
Prof. Antonio Fallico, president of the Conoscere Eurasia Association in the Veneto region, stated that the suggestion put forward by Vietnam clearly demonstrate a peaceful and co-operative approach, and a sense of responsibility towards regional and international stability and security.
Vietnam is expected to continue making greater contributions to dialogue efforts, strive to enhance trust, whilst promoting the efficiency of sea values in the interest of each country and for the sake of peace and prosperity of mankind in general, Prof. Fallico concluded.
