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30 October 2026UN Security Council updates the sanctions list (30/10/2026)

Activities11 November 2021

Vietnam Supports the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Field: Chemical Tiếng Việt

Unofficial translation from the Vietnamese original.

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, affirmed Vietnam's consistent position in support of the non-proliferation and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons.

Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, speaks at the meeting.

On 3 June, at United Nations Headquarters in New York (United States), the Security Council (UNSC) voted unanimously (15 votes in favour) to adopt two resolutions concerning the situations in Sudan and Libya. Immediately afterwards, the UNSC held its regular meeting on the issue of chemical weapons in Syria.

Resolution 2578 extends the measures set out in UNSC Resolution 2292 (2016) until 3 June 2022, authorising United Nations Member States, acting through regional organisations and in appropriate consultation with the Government of Libya, to inspect on the high seas (excluding waters under Libya's sovereignty) vessels bound to or from Libya where there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are carrying arms or related materiel in violation of UNSC resolutions.

Resolution 2579 extends the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) until 3 June 2022 and retains the Mission's four main strategic pillars: supporting the political transition and governance, supporting the implementation of the Peace Agreement of 3 October 2020, assisting peacebuilding, and mobilising resources for economic development and humanitarian action.

The resolution also authorises UNITAMS to support the implementation of the strategic objectives of the Government of Sudan, including the drafting of a new Constitution, ceasefire monitoring in Darfur, peace negotiations between the Government and armed groups, and implementation of the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians.

At the meeting on chemical weapons in Syria, the UNSC heard updates from Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Fernando Arias, Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Representatives focused their discussion on the investigation of allegations of chemical weapons use in Syria and on technical cooperation between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria in resolving discrepancies in Syria's initial declaration under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Pham Hai Anh, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, affirmed Vietnam's consistent position in support of the non-proliferation and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. Ambassador Pham Hai Anh shared the UNSC's common concern over reports alleging the use of chemical weapons in Syria, and stressed the need to maintain close and continuous cooperation between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria in advancing the implementation of the CWC and resolving all differences and outstanding issues. Ambassador Pham Hai Anh also called on the international community to step up cooperation and constructive dialogue to help find a lasting solution to the Syrian issue.

Also on the afternoon of 3 June, the UN Security Council discussed the situation of the FSO Safer oil tanker off the coast of Yemen. Ms Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Ms Reena Ghelani, Director of Operations and Advocacy of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), briefed the meeting. The briefers recalled that the Safer had been abandoned off the city of Hodeidah (Yemen) and had not been repaired or regularly maintained since coming under the control of Ansar Allah in Yemen in 2015.

The UN representatives warned of the risk of an environmental disaster in the Red Sea and surrounding region, as well as a humanitarian catastrophe for tens of millions of people in Yemen, should an oil spill or explosion occur on the Safer.

The briefers noted that, in addition to economic losses, such an incident would force the closure of ports in Hodeidah and Taiz, driving up prices and seriously affecting people's livelihoods. They also provided information on recent negotiation efforts and called on Ansar Allah to allow the UN technical expert team prompt access to the Safer to carry out its assessment and, if necessary, urgent repairs.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Counsellor Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, shared the concerns of UNSC members over the Safer and stated that the UN expert team must be allowed to carry out its mission on the Safer immediately and without time restrictions.

The representative of Vietnam urged the parties concerned to cooperate and engage in dialogue to resolve their differences, and stressed the need to secure financial support so that the UN expert team can operate and fulfil its assigned mission.

Vietnam called on all parties concerned to cease hostile military activities, accept the United Nations' proposals, in particular a ceasefire in Yemen, and cooperate to find a sustainable solution to end the conflict in Yemen.

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