Big countries respect Vietnam more

The moment the entire General Assembly meeting room with representatives of more than 190 countries applauded continuously when the record number of votes for Vietnam was announced still makes many people proud of the two words Vietnam in the international arena.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy gives a thumbs up after Vietnam won the Security Council election with a record number of votes in June 2019. Sitting next to him is Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung - Photo: AFP

Nearly two years after Vietnam successfully completed its term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council , the moment the entire General Assembly meeting room with representatives of more than 190 countries applauded endlessly when the record number of votes for Vietnam was announced still made many people proud of the two words Vietnam in the international arena.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs , Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (2018 - 2022), was present at that moment.

He was also the head of the Vietnamese delegation to the United Nations both times our country assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council.

Bold Vietnamese mark

* Sir, the moment the result was announced that Vietnam received 192/193 votes in favor to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the second time left many emotions with people both at home and abroad. Could you share more about the process leading to this wonderful result and the assessment of international friends?

- 192/193 is a record number of votes in the 74-year history of the United Nations. The countries voted for Vietnam because Vietnam has a very heroic history of fighting against foreign invaders, for the independence and freedom of its people, and also for the common values ​​of humanity.

It is also because Vietnam is one of the few countries that has succeeded in development after gaining independence and because they expect Vietnam to take on a more active role in the common work of the international community.

But to achieve that result, we have persistently campaigned for 10 consecutive years, right after the end of our first term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council (2008-2009).

We campaigned for them to "concede" us as the sole candidate of the Asia- Pacific region, campaigned for them to vote for us without asking for votes in exchange, without setting conditions.

During our second two years as a non-permanent member, we have actively contributed to the protection of international peace and security. These activities have left a clear mark on the Security Council’s operations, even at a time when the world is facing an unprecedented challenge, COVID-19.

It is difficult to know exactly how international friends evaluate Vietnam. However, my feeling is that what we have done at the Security Council during our second term as a non-permanent member has made big countries respect us more and our friends love us more.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Data: DUY LINH

* During your time as head of the Vietnamese delegation to the United Nations, Vietnam twice assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council. Is there a story that you remember most during this time?

- Being the rotating chairman is a responsibility but also a great honor. Due to alphabetical order, in each term there are some non-permanent member countries that can only hold this position once.

Vietnam is fortunate to have done so twice. The first time we took the presidency (January 2020) was also the first day of our term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. Coincidentally, that was also the first day the United Nations entered its 75th year since its inception.

Sitting in the chairman's chair, operating according to the script but holding the hammer is also quite a stressful job, especially when countries have different opinions, different from the set script.

In April 2021, our second time as president coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic raging in New York. The Security Council met online all month. The president chaired meetings online, negotiated documents online, and lobbied online. There was always a fear of losing the internet.

Fortunately for Vietnam, during all the meetings during the presidential month, the connection was good, communication between New York and Hanoi was always smooth (while some major countries always had signal problems).

Our second month of presidency was also very successful, with the Security Council adopting two presidential statements and an important resolution on "protecting critical infrastructure for civilians", which bears Vietnam's strong imprint.

* Although the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council are highly appreciated for their role, there are also opinions that these countries play the role of mediators, coordinating relations between the 5 permanent members of the Security Council. What do you think about this opinion?

There is reconciliation, but it is difficult to say that it coordinates relations among the five permanent countries. On some issues and at some times when the permanent countries have different views, the non-permanent countries take turns contacting and lobbying each permanent country, "shuttle diplomacy" so that they can find a common denominator.

A typical example is when the cross-border humanitarian assistance mechanisms in Syria expired and the permanent countries had different views.

If the operation of these mechanisms is not extended, millions of Syrians will be in danger of losing their lives due to lack of medicine and food, the non-permanent countries have tried to persuade, even entice the Secretary-General to create pressure.

Finally, the mechanism was extended by the solidarity of the non-permanent members, 10 countries voted in favor while the 5 permanent countries all abstained.

Vietnamese female soldiers depart for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Abyei and South Sudan in 2022 - Photo: NAM TRAN

Only national interests

* In the process of handling work at the Security Council, how does Vietnam reconcile national interests and international interests, sir?

- In 1964, Uncle Ho told diplomatic officials: Whatever we do, do it for the benefit of the nation. In handling foreign affairs, national interests are both the root and the goal to guide actions.

However, it is necessary to harmonize specific and comprehensive interests, short-term and long-term interests. The work of the Security Council involves the direct interests of major countries, friendly countries, especially those in conflict areas. The determination of interests must therefore be all the more harmonized.

* Many people still believe that behind the meetings, the results adopted at the United Nations are the result of lobbying, giving and receiving support. Could you share more about Vietnam's basic principles in such contacts?

- I think we must try to handle it harmoniously. The principle of foreign affairs is for the national interest and in accordance with international law .

If keeping principles makes any country unhappy, we must explain to them so they can understand, and when we have the opportunity to do something good for them, we must try to do it.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talks with Vietnamese "Blue Berets" soldiers during his visit to Vietnam in October 2022. He has a lot of affection for the soldiers of the Peacekeeping Force - Photo: NGUYEN KHÁNH

* Nowadays, competition between major powers is becoming increasingly fierce, putting small countries in a difficult situation or forcing them to choose sides. As a country with a geostrategic position, how do you think Vietnam has managed to cope with the competition between major powers?

- I see that everything has two sides. Competition between major countries also creates opportunities because when competing, they need to gather friends. We make friends with all sides for the sake of our national interests on the basis of international law.

How we manage is subject to change. With enough strength, courage and good application of Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic lesson of "remaining constant, responding to all changes", I believe we will harmoniously handle relations with major countries.

Diplomacy requires handshakes and hugs

* How do non-traditional incidents like COVID-19 affect traditional multilateral diplomatic activities, sir? Yes. Diplomacy is about contact, exchange, negotiation... and lobbying. There needs to be communication and interaction through language, gestures, demeanor and feelings. These things must be met in person and done in person to be effective. A look, a handshake, a hug... can replace many words and writings. But because of COVID-19, we have to find other ways to work. I remember in March 2020, the month China was the president, the Security Council took nearly 2 weeks to agree on the online meeting method, especially the voting method. Basically, the Security Council completed its tasks, but it was not able to carry out many necessary activities, especially field trips to conflict areas.

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During two years of assuming the responsibility of a non-permanent member, Vietnam has participated in all activities of the Security Council, successfully fulfilling its responsibilities as chairman of two committees under this agency.

Vietnam also initiated, chaired the drafting, negotiation and submission to the Security Council for approval of two resolutions and three statements of the President of the Security Council.

Notably, in the first month of assuming the rotating presidency of the Security Council (January 2020), Vietnam set a record for the number of speeches in an open discussion session of the council with 111 speeches in 3 sessions, 3 days around the theme: "Upholding the Charter in maintaining international peace and security".

The introduction of this theme in the first month of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations was an important reason for attracting a record number of speeches.

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