Vietnam is trying its best to overcome the consequences of post-warbombs and mines, for a peaceful life of the people. In this issue,support of the international community plays an important role but muchneeds to be done to help them truly understand and assist Vietnambetter.
The People’s Army Newspaper interviewed SeniorLieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defenceand Chief of the Permanent Agency of the National Mine Action Programme504 about this issue.
*Some international organisations suggestedthat Vietnam should soon join the Convention on Cluster Munitions topromote its multilateral relations to get more support for its mineaction programme. Could you please give us the viewpoint of Programme504’s Permanent Agency on this?
The target of Programme 504 is to“mobilize domestic and international resources in an effort to minimizeand finally create an impact-free environment for socio-economicdevelopment; ensuring peoples safety and assisting victims tosuccessfully reintegrate into society”.
Therefore, mobilizingdomestic and international resources plays an important role in thesuccess of this programme. So far, mine action in Vietnam has beensupported almost completely (98 percent) by domestic resources, mainlyfrom the state budget. As a result, Programme 504’s Permanent Agency hasmade a plan to mobilise international donations.
We haveconducted many bilateral and multilateral meetings to help potentialdonors better understand about the contamination of explosive remnantsremaining from past wars in Vietnam. Donors include foreign governmentsand international non-government organizations. The Government ofVietnam is determined to increase international support in the upcomingtime and has provided targets, action plans and policies to support theeffort.
Participation in international conventions or agreementsneeds to be thoroughly considered and prepared for within the frameworkof legal regulations and procedures to ensure that Vietnam implementsthese conventions and agreements responsibly and effectively. To join aninternational convention, at first, it is necessary to research andhave an overall evaluation on interests, limits, roadmap, time frame andthe most important thing: the resources to implement the contents ofthat convention.
Obviously, joining this convention can helpcreate favourable conditions to mobilize more resources. However, it isnot the decisive condition. Governments and international donors alsopay attention to other issues such as targets, policies, mechanism,transparency, feasibility, humanity, and the accordance of the nationalmine action standards with the international standards.
AlthoughVietnam has not yet joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions, thecountry will always support the humanity of this convention. Vietnam hasbeen implementing many elements of the convention, such as: Not toproduce, use, stockpile or transfer cluster munitions. We have made manyefforts and allocated resources to destroy cluster munitions left afterthe war. The Vietnamese government and its people have activelysupported the victims of wars and victims of post-war bombs and mines,including those of cluster munitions. We will try better to helpgovernments and international donors understand about these efforts.
*Beinga country that faces serious consequences from cluster munitions, whatare Vietnam’s proposals to the country that used this weapon in theVietnam War and has not yet joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions?
Ithink that not only Vietnam but also other countries that have notjoined this convention worry about this. Firstly, the Convention doesnot regulate the responsibilities of a country to solve the consequencesin another country in which it has used cluster munitions.
Secondly,some countries which have a strong defence industry, capable ofmanufacturing cluster munitions have not yet joined the Convention,therefore, the Convention does not eliminate the purchase, transfer oruse of cluster munitions.
Besides, the Convention does not haveany articles to regulate or impose compulsory obligations on countriesthat have used cluster munitions. Meanwhile, according to theConvention, victim countries have to clear and destroy cluster munitionswithin ten years, if not, they have to propose an extension.
Thefact is that countries that are victims of cluster munitions arehard-hit by wars, lack of resources and have many things to do toovercome the consequences of wars. On the other hand, countries thatmanufacture and use cluster munitions do not take any responsibility fortheir action.
Therefore, victim countries, if they sign theConvention, will create a pressure on themselves while not receiving anyremarkable resources in comparison to what they have to spend toovercome the consequences of war. It is necessary to include in theConvention the responsibilities of the countries that use clustermunitions.
*Are there any countries that suggest providingVietnam with technical assistance or other kinds of support if Vietnamjoins the Convention?
Although Vietnam has not yet joined theConvention, there have been projects, funded or assisted by theInternational Centre (IC-VVAF), Norwegian People’s Aid, GenevaInternational Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), to survey thecontamination of explosive remnants of wars, including cluster munitionsat a humble level.
We have also received other kinds ofinternational assistance to research, learn more about the Convention,or participation in international conferences on cluster munitions...
Sofar, when advocating Vietnam to join the Convention, internationalorganizations have only said that Vietnam would receive more resourcesfrom other countries and organizations. No countries have suggested thatthey would provide technical assistance or other kinds of assistance toVietnam if Vietnam joined this Convention.
*Mr Deputy Minister, could you please give a brief about the results achieved by Programme 504 and its upcoming activities?
Programme504 has finalised the organization of the Steering Board and PermanentAgency. It has also given advice to the Prime Minister to implementDecision 738/QD-TTg; making the Decree on Mine Action Management;compiling the National Mine Action Standards; preparing the project toestablish the Vietnam Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and National MineAction Database… We will soon introduce the website of VNMAC, theofficial information channel of the Programme.
We have met anddiscussed assistance and donations with many countries such as the US,Norway, Switzerland and Germany and signed a memorandum of understandingon cooperation in mine action with the US government (December, 2013),IC-VVAF and GICHD.
Most significantly, we have initiated theestablishment of the Experts Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Actionwithin the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus andtogether with India will chair this in the first two years.
Additionally,Programme 504 has also increased communication efforts to establishdomestic consensus and increase the attention from the internationalcommunity.
In the upcoming time, the Programme will actively workwith international donors to negotiate and sign memoranda ofunderstanding at bilateral or multilateral level or include mine actionin the governmental cooperation programmes. We will also participate inrelated international conferences and work with the governments ofJapan, Republic of Korea, Australia and India, as well as othergovernments and organizations to get more international support for theProgramme.
The Programme will cooperate with ministries andbranches to prepare resource mobilization plans and is organizing ameeting with the donors in mid-March, 2014 to introduce VNMAC, MineAction Partners Group, the Programme’s website and other activities…
*What are the specific measures to get more international assistance in mine action in Vietnam, Mr. Deputy Minister?
Inmine action, the assistance from the international community toVietnam, though humble to the reality of the work, is valuable andhighly appreciated. In particular, the international community’s supportin building capacity, micro management and technology has helped bringabout positive change in mine action in Vietnam.
We do hope that,in the upcoming years, Vietnam will get more attention and assistancefrom the international community. To do that, the Permanent Agency ispreparing a strategy for international resource mobilization to submitfor the approval of the Programme 504’s Steering Board.
ThePermanent Agency also established a sub-committee for internationalresource mobilisation to implement an international resourcemobilisation plan at the national level.
In the integrationperiod, Vietnam will research and make efforts to join internationalconventions and agreements, establish bilateral and multilateralcommitments to work with other countries to solve common issues with aviewpoint that Vietnam is an active member of ASEAN and theinternational community, for a world of peace.
We still have many things to do but I strongly believe that in 2014 we will get good results in mine action in Vietnam.-VNA
The People’s Army Newspaper interviewed SeniorLieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defenceand Chief of the Permanent Agency of the National Mine Action Programme504 about this issue.
*Some international organisations suggestedthat Vietnam should soon join the Convention on Cluster Munitions topromote its multilateral relations to get more support for its mineaction programme. Could you please give us the viewpoint of Programme504’s Permanent Agency on this?
The target of Programme 504 is to“mobilize domestic and international resources in an effort to minimizeand finally create an impact-free environment for socio-economicdevelopment; ensuring peoples safety and assisting victims tosuccessfully reintegrate into society”.
Therefore, mobilizingdomestic and international resources plays an important role in thesuccess of this programme. So far, mine action in Vietnam has beensupported almost completely (98 percent) by domestic resources, mainlyfrom the state budget. As a result, Programme 504’s Permanent Agency hasmade a plan to mobilise international donations.
We haveconducted many bilateral and multilateral meetings to help potentialdonors better understand about the contamination of explosive remnantsremaining from past wars in Vietnam. Donors include foreign governmentsand international non-government organizations. The Government ofVietnam is determined to increase international support in the upcomingtime and has provided targets, action plans and policies to support theeffort.
Participation in international conventions or agreementsneeds to be thoroughly considered and prepared for within the frameworkof legal regulations and procedures to ensure that Vietnam implementsthese conventions and agreements responsibly and effectively. To join aninternational convention, at first, it is necessary to research andhave an overall evaluation on interests, limits, roadmap, time frame andthe most important thing: the resources to implement the contents ofthat convention.
Obviously, joining this convention can helpcreate favourable conditions to mobilize more resources. However, it isnot the decisive condition. Governments and international donors alsopay attention to other issues such as targets, policies, mechanism,transparency, feasibility, humanity, and the accordance of the nationalmine action standards with the international standards.
AlthoughVietnam has not yet joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions, thecountry will always support the humanity of this convention. Vietnam hasbeen implementing many elements of the convention, such as: Not toproduce, use, stockpile or transfer cluster munitions. We have made manyefforts and allocated resources to destroy cluster munitions left afterthe war. The Vietnamese government and its people have activelysupported the victims of wars and victims of post-war bombs and mines,including those of cluster munitions. We will try better to helpgovernments and international donors understand about these efforts.
*Beinga country that faces serious consequences from cluster munitions, whatare Vietnam’s proposals to the country that used this weapon in theVietnam War and has not yet joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions?
Ithink that not only Vietnam but also other countries that have notjoined this convention worry about this. Firstly, the Convention doesnot regulate the responsibilities of a country to solve the consequencesin another country in which it has used cluster munitions.
Secondly,some countries which have a strong defence industry, capable ofmanufacturing cluster munitions have not yet joined the Convention,therefore, the Convention does not eliminate the purchase, transfer oruse of cluster munitions.
Besides, the Convention does not haveany articles to regulate or impose compulsory obligations on countriesthat have used cluster munitions. Meanwhile, according to theConvention, victim countries have to clear and destroy cluster munitionswithin ten years, if not, they have to propose an extension.
Thefact is that countries that are victims of cluster munitions arehard-hit by wars, lack of resources and have many things to do toovercome the consequences of wars. On the other hand, countries thatmanufacture and use cluster munitions do not take any responsibility fortheir action.
Therefore, victim countries, if they sign theConvention, will create a pressure on themselves while not receiving anyremarkable resources in comparison to what they have to spend toovercome the consequences of war. It is necessary to include in theConvention the responsibilities of the countries that use clustermunitions.
*Are there any countries that suggest providingVietnam with technical assistance or other kinds of support if Vietnamjoins the Convention?
Although Vietnam has not yet joined theConvention, there have been projects, funded or assisted by theInternational Centre (IC-VVAF), Norwegian People’s Aid, GenevaInternational Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), to survey thecontamination of explosive remnants of wars, including cluster munitionsat a humble level.
We have also received other kinds ofinternational assistance to research, learn more about the Convention,or participation in international conferences on cluster munitions...
Sofar, when advocating Vietnam to join the Convention, internationalorganizations have only said that Vietnam would receive more resourcesfrom other countries and organizations. No countries have suggested thatthey would provide technical assistance or other kinds of assistance toVietnam if Vietnam joined this Convention.
*Mr Deputy Minister, could you please give a brief about the results achieved by Programme 504 and its upcoming activities?
Programme504 has finalised the organization of the Steering Board and PermanentAgency. It has also given advice to the Prime Minister to implementDecision 738/QD-TTg; making the Decree on Mine Action Management;compiling the National Mine Action Standards; preparing the project toestablish the Vietnam Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) and National MineAction Database… We will soon introduce the website of VNMAC, theofficial information channel of the Programme.
We have met anddiscussed assistance and donations with many countries such as the US,Norway, Switzerland and Germany and signed a memorandum of understandingon cooperation in mine action with the US government (December, 2013),IC-VVAF and GICHD.
Most significantly, we have initiated theestablishment of the Experts Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Actionwithin the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus andtogether with India will chair this in the first two years.
Additionally,Programme 504 has also increased communication efforts to establishdomestic consensus and increase the attention from the internationalcommunity.
In the upcoming time, the Programme will actively workwith international donors to negotiate and sign memoranda ofunderstanding at bilateral or multilateral level or include mine actionin the governmental cooperation programmes. We will also participate inrelated international conferences and work with the governments ofJapan, Republic of Korea, Australia and India, as well as othergovernments and organizations to get more international support for theProgramme.
The Programme will cooperate with ministries andbranches to prepare resource mobilization plans and is organizing ameeting with the donors in mid-March, 2014 to introduce VNMAC, MineAction Partners Group, the Programme’s website and other activities…
*What are the specific measures to get more international assistance in mine action in Vietnam, Mr. Deputy Minister?
Inmine action, the assistance from the international community toVietnam, though humble to the reality of the work, is valuable andhighly appreciated. In particular, the international community’s supportin building capacity, micro management and technology has helped bringabout positive change in mine action in Vietnam.
We do hope that,in the upcoming years, Vietnam will get more attention and assistancefrom the international community. To do that, the Permanent Agency ispreparing a strategy for international resource mobilization to submitfor the approval of the Programme 504’s Steering Board.
ThePermanent Agency also established a sub-committee for internationalresource mobilisation to implement an international resourcemobilisation plan at the national level.
In the integrationperiod, Vietnam will research and make efforts to join internationalconventions and agreements, establish bilateral and multilateralcommitments to work with other countries to solve common issues with aviewpoint that Vietnam is an active member of ASEAN and theinternational community, for a world of peace.
We still have many things to do but I strongly believe that in 2014 we will get good results in mine action in Vietnam.-VNA
