A Vietnamese diplomat to the United Nations reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for a peace process led and owned by Afghans at a Security Council Arria Meeting in New York on November 20. 

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN

Addressing the meeting, ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, welcomed Afghan peace talks between parties concerned and expected the parties would soon reach a long-term ceasefire agreement to create a stable and conducive environment for peace negotiations.

Ambassador extended his condolences to the government, people and families of the victims of the Nov.2 terror attack at Kabul University. He called on stakeholders to comply with international humanitarian law, and ensure humanitarian healthcare access in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ambassador also emphasized the importance of strengthening humanitarian efforts, reducing poverty, responding to food insecurity, and increasing the participation of women and young people in the peace process in Afghanistan.

Situation in Afghanistan has remained complicated despite peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban that began on September 12.

According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the conflict in Afghanistan is one of the bloodiest in the present world, with more than 10,000 civilian casualties in 2019 and over 3,500 in the first 6 months of this year.

As of November 20, 2020, Afghanistan has recorded more than 44,000 COVID-19 cases and over 1,600 deaths caused by the virus.