At an open debate of the United Nations Security Council on Middle East’s situation in New York on March 25, Vietnam’s permanent representative to the UN Security Council, Ambassador Le Luong Minh, said the engagement has contributed to the successful outcome of the Cairo international conference on the reconstruction of Gaza, and the further efforts of the Palestinian Authority to improve socio-economic rehabilitation and reconstruction, especially in the current global financial meltdown.

“These developments, however, remain overshadowed by the extent and scope of the challenges that persist in the region. We condemn Israel’s continued military activities and bombardments, its ongoing construction of the Separation Wall and its expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. In the same vein, we condemn the rocket attacks against Israeli civilians,” Ambassador Minh said.

He went on to urge all the parties concerned to opt for peaceful rather than military means to settle their disputes and to refrain from any action detrimental to innocent civilians and the process of negotiations toward a two-State solution to the conflict.

“We underline the pressing need for full implementation of resolution 1860 (2009), especially with regard to a durable, lasting and fully respected ceasefire, the opening of border crossings, and intra-Palestinian reconciliation,” Mr Minh said, adding the role played by the UN, the League of Arab States and regional countries remains essential in this connection.

The Vietnamese diplomat praised UN agencies, particularly the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and other humanitarian organisations for their bravery in rendering emergency assistance to Gazans and urged the parties concerned to fully cooperate in facilitating humanitarian activities and respect international humanitarian and human rights laws in all circumstances. He welcomed the Secretary-General’s initiative to dispatch the Board of Inquiry to Gaza and look forward to the report on the results of its investigations.

Regarding Lebanon issue, Ambassador Minh took note of the steps taken by the Government of Lebanon to assert full authority over its territory, strengthen the country’s political stability and socio-economic development, and normalize relations with regional countries.

“We join the Secretary-General in condemning the recent terrorist attack against PLO personnel in Lebanon and request that culprits be brought to justice. We call upon all parties in Lebanon to refrain from violence, build on the general momentum of national unity and reconciliation created since the signing of the Doha Agreement in May 2008, and concentrate efforts on ensuring that the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, 2009 will be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner,” he said.

The Vietnamese Ambassador reiterated support for the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), and called on all parties concerned to work together to peacefully tackle such outstanding issues as Israel’s intensified air violations of Lebanese territory and continued occupation of the northern part of Ghajar village and an adjacent area north of the Blue Line, the unresolved status of Shab’a Farms, as well as the environmental contamination and civilian casualties due to Israel’s failure to provide the technical strike data on the cluster munitions and landmines used earlier by its forces.