Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy on December 18 highlighted the country’s support for stronger cooperation between the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to promote the rule of law and help maintain global peace and security.

Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, delivered remarks at a teleconferenced open debate on cooperation between the UNSC and the ICJ.

At this event, ICJ President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf presented two typical cooperation examples of the UNSC and the ICJ, proposing the UNSC restore the tradition of recommending parties involved in disputes refer to the ICJ to seek legal advice or settle disputes.

UNSC member states affirmed that peacefully resolving disputes is one of the fundamental principles of international law, and the ICJ, as the main judicial organ of the UN, plays a crucial role in upholding the rule of law and justice.

They shared the view that the UNSC and the ICJ are complementary to each other in maintaining international peace and security, and showed their support for increased dialogue and cooperation between these two organs.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN
(Photo: VNA)

In his speech, Ambassador Quy pointed out that while challenges to international peace and security keep evolving and instances of violations of international law abound, the UNSC should uphold and use international law and promote the peaceful settlement of disputes to prevent conflicts.

He expressed support for the UNSC to foster cooperation with the ICJ via mechanisms empowered by the UN Charter and to talk with the ICJ about complex legal issues.

He underlined that Vietnam advocates international legal processes, including the ICJ, stronger international cooperation, as well as the building of countries’ capacity in effectively using international judicial and arbitration bodies.

The diplomat also called on the ICJ to increase training so that law students can get familiar with the court’s activities and procedures for dealing with disputes via law.

The ICJ, established in 1945 by the UN Charter, is the principal judicial organ of the UN. Its role is to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN organs and specialised agencies.

This was the second time in two months the UNSC had held a meeting with the ICJ. Every year, the ICJ President has separate dialogues with UNSC member states on legal issues relevant to the maintenance of international peace and security.