Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien on Iraq situation
Interview given by Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien to the Vietnam News Agency on the Iraqi situation on 14 April 2003
Vietnam News Agency: What is the position of the Vietnamese Government on the current situation in Iraq?
Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien: Vietnam’s position is consistent and clear. Joining the peace-loving people in all continents, Vietnam always strives for peace and stability in the world, advocates solving international disputes by peaceful means and protests against the use or threat of force in international relations, which violates national independence and sovereignty, and international laws, and causes sorrow and death to civilians.
The Vietnamese people share with the Iraqi people the losses in life and property caused by the war. We hold that what is urgent now is to soon restore peace, security and stability in Iraq; minimize the impacts of the war on the Iraqi people and ensure full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-determination for the Iraqi people as well as international laws in order to quickly overcome the war’s aftermath and rebuild Iraq. The United Nations needs to play an important role in this process and only the Iraqi people have the right to choose their country’s administration.
Vietnam News Agency: Many countries have expressed their willingness to participate in humanitarian aid activities and to assist the reconstruction in Iraq under various forms and to different extents. Would you please let us know the Vietnamese Government’s position on this issue?
Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien: In the current situation, it is incumbent upon all members of the international community to carry out an urgent task of taking part in direct humanitarian aid activities for the Iraqi people and preventing a possible humanitarian disaster in Iraq.
