Vietnamese defence delagation in a field trip to the MINUSCA

Peacekeeping operation is a mixture of a number of activities, from civilian to military field, conducted by countries, international organizations, regions throughout the world under the command of the UN with the aim of making peace in conflicted areas, settle disputes among conflicting parties through peaceful means. Peacekeeping forces are deployed only when a ceasefire has been signed. Their missions are to observe troop withdrawal, disarmament, peace restoration, carry out election and assist reconstruction. With the above-mentioned missions, peacekeeping forces may consist of civilian, police or military personnel. They may participate either in the form of individuals working in the missions of the UN in countries, at peacekeeping agencies of UN or in the form of units observing, guarding, assisting reconstruction, building infrastruction (from platoon to regiment level). In general, the deployment of peacekeepers must observe a complex and requiring procedure with the agreement of involving countries and the UN. With different goals, including the one of increasing influence in international relations both in short term and long term, many countries have been proactively in preparing forces peacekeeping operations with different scales and in different places. As a result, peacekeeping is also a competitive activity.

Regarding the matter, our consistent policy is to participate in the operations with care and proactiveness and mainly in the advising and supplying fields under the command of the UN. Over the past years, Vietnam has deployed 10 officers to UNMISS and MINUSCA in the form of individuals. The officers are deployed under the command of the President and the decision of the Minister of National Defence. They have always performed well their tasks and been praised by missions and the UN. At present, a level 2 field hospital and an engineer company are under preparation and get ready when required.

Together with joining the UN peacekeeping operations, we have studied, proposed and implemented a number of appropriate policies for the peacekeepers. Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of National Defence has built study plan, dispatched missions and dialogued with peacekeepers; proposed mechanism and policies and supply for Vietnamese peacekeepers in missions to South Sudan, Mali, Central Africa, the UN Headquarters in New York, USA.

To ensure good policies for peacekeepers both in short term and long term, the following orientations should be implemented thoroughly:

First, the policies must show the Party and State’s attention for the new force conducting special task.

Second, the policies must be appropriate with the feature of the mission and the operation of our peacekeepers at the UN peacekeeping operations.

Third, the policies must be good enough to stimulate and encourage the peacekeepers prior, during and after their mission.

Fourth, mobilize all resources to promote synergy from the society to implement policies for peacekeepers and their families.

Major General Tran Van Minh

Director of the Department of Policy