Diplomat urges int'l community to support Somalia

New York (VNA) - The international community should continue its efforts to develop a common approach to addressing the challenges facing Somalia, said Ambassador Hoang Chi Trung, deputy representative of Vietnam's mission to the UN.

Trung made the statement at a debate of the UN Security Council on the
situation in Somalia .

"Our delegation remains deeply concerned about the increasing insecurity
in and off the coast of Somalia ," the ambassador said, citing the surge
in piracy and armed robbery against ships along the coast, as well as a
series of fighting among insurgent groups and against peacekeepers there.

The deterioration of security and stability in Somalia poses an
immense challenge not only to the ongoing peace process, but also to the
delivery of humanitarian aid, Trung said.

However, the ambassador appreciated the significant progress made by the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Alliance for the
Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) in their implementation of the Somali peace
process, notably the signing of two important documents on October 26, 2008
in Djibouti .

He believed that this is a crucial step towards securing peace and
stability in Somalia , saying simultaneous actions on both political and
security fronts are imperative.

Trung also called upon all the Somalis to engage in the peace process and
faithfully implement the Djibouti Agreement as well as the Cessation of
Armed Confrontation Agreement.

The United Nations, in coordination with regional organizations, should
extend necessary financial, logistical and technical assistance to the TFG,
Trung suggested.-Enditem