PANO – Vietnam is accelerating its preparations to be able to participate effectively in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO), in which the military forces play an important role.
Advantages and disadvantages
Joining the UNPKO is an important activity in Vietnam’s foreign relations, reiterating the country’s consistent policy of active international integration and willingness to contribute actively and responsibly to the common activities of the international community, as well as the UN’s noble targets. What are Vietnam’s advantages and disadvantages when it joins the UNPKO?
It can be said that the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) has been built and trained both to fight and work, with its great achievements in the resistance wars, protecting the Fatherland and engaging in economic activities to develop the country. However, Vietnam has not yet participated in any specific UNPKO, so that the country has many things to prepare for this task.
The UNPKO environment is different from the fighting and working tasks of the VPA, requiring close cooperation with different forces from different countries. This cooperation is done within the framework and regulation of the UN Security Council and under the leadership of the UN Secretary General. Therefore, the participating forces must understand the standard procedures applied in the UN.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese forces participating in the UNPKO must be ready to adapt to the natural conditions, cultures and different social norms in distant areas.
However, Vietnam also has some advantages. First of all, the country has much support from the international community. Joining the UNPKO is voluntary, so that Vietnam has right to decide when to join, the size of committed forces and what fields it will participate in, according to its capacity.
A seminar to share experiences on United Nations peacekeeping operations was held in Da Nang on July 18th.
Moreover, the VPA is experienced and has expertise in its selected activities in the UNPKO, like engineering and military medicine. Therefore, the preparation time for joining the UNPKO can be shortened to focus on training in the UN standard procedures and other knowledge.
Careful preparation
On 22nd May, 2013, the Ministry of National Defence decided to establish a Steering Board, led by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, to instruct the preparation work for sending VPA troops to the UNPKO.
Under the leadership of the Central Military Commission and the leaders of the Ministry of National Defence, relevant units have actively implemented their preparation work and have achieved some initial results in research and training.
Recently, a remarkable number of VPA troops have attended training courses, held in Vietnam and abroad, on the UNPKO. These courses are provided and funded by foreign counterparts.
Vietnam has also boosted cooperation with countries, including the US, the UK, Australia and Switzerland, in training work. Since 2011, the Australian Defence Forces have helped train VPA troops in terms of foreign language and knowledge about the UNPKO. Through its Global Peacekeeping Operation Initiative, the US Department of Defence has given support and funding for VPA cadres to participate in workshops and exercises on the UNPKO. The US is also expected to help Vietnam build a UNPKO centre.
To make the preparation go smoothly, Vietnam has actively studied experiences from other countries. On July 18th, the Institute for Defence International Relations of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vietnam cooperated to organize a seminar on “Sharing experiences in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations with new troop contributors” to assist Vietnam and other ASEAN member states which plan to begin contributing troops to the UNPKO.
Earlier, a delegation led by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, conducted a fact finding trip to South Sudan to gain practical experience with the UNPKO mission in the country.
It is certain that with its careful preparation, experience and capacity, the VPA can effectively participate in the UNPKO, contributing to heightening the status of the VPA and reconfirming Vietnam as a responsible member of the international community.
Translated by Ngoc Hung
Đăng ký: VietNam News