Vietnam welcomes new Somalian political process

New York (VNA) - Vietnam welcomes progress in the political process of Somalia
, including the election of a new President, the newly expanded parliament and the
formation of a more inclusive government.

At a debate of the United Nations Security Council regarding the situation in
Somalia in New York on March 20, Ambassador Le Luong Minh, permanent
representative to the UN Security Council reaffirmed the country's position that
peace and security in Somalia can only be achieved through dialogue,
negotiations, and a willingness to compromise.

"We welcome the efforts of President Sheikh Ahmed to make the process more inclusive
by reaching out to different groups from around the country," Minh said.
However, he also expressed his concern about the volatile security situation in
the African nation, evidenced by a series of attacks against the African Union
Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), which led to the deaths and injury of many
peacekeepers.

He also said he was worried about a lack of progress in terms of humanitarian
measures, with more than 3 million Somalis currently in need of assistance, and
being forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting. He condemned all attacks
against AMISOM, humanitarian personnel and civilians, and called for an immediate
end to such hostilities.

"In taking stock of the currency piracy situation off the coast of Somalia , and
the complexity of the political and security scenes of this war-torn country, I
commend the operational efforts of Member States within the framework of the Contact
Group on piracy," he said. Though he also emphasized the need to implement all
relevant Security Council resolutions and the Djibouti peace process.

"We share the Secretary General's view that the scourge of piracy and armed
robbery at sea can only be resolved through an integrated approach that addresses
the conflict, lack of governance and absence of sustainable livelihoods in
Somalia ," Ambassador Minh added.

He lauded AMISOM for its enduring efforts under difficult circumstances, and pledged
continued support for the Secretary General's plan to convene and international
donor conference to solicit contributions AMISOM.-Enditem