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| Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of National Defence, presents the Decision of the President of Việt Nam to the officers assigned to carry out United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. (Photo: VnExpress) |
On April 8, the Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony to award the President's decision to three officers. Major Nguyen Sy Hieu will serve as a Military Observer at MINUSCA (Central African Republic) replacing Captain Nguyen Van Phong. Major Hieu is a former lecturer of the Academy of Air Defence – Air Force.
Captain Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, the only woman of the three, will serve as a Logistics Officer at UNISFA (Abyei region) replacing Lieutenant Tran Nam Phuong. She is a former lecturer of the Computer Science Department, Army Academy.
First Lieutenant Nguyen Tien Long, former Assistant to the Political Department of Navy Zone 4 Command, will serve as a Military Observer at UNMISS (South Sudan) replacing First Lieutenant Nguyen Nhu Tuan.
According to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the three officers completed the Competency Evaluation Program for Prospective UN Peacekeepers (CEPPP) and the joint military exercise with India on peacekeeping (VINBAX). They also underwent pre-deployment training courses, ensuring they meet mission requirements when they arrive in the area.
Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Central Committee Member of the Party, Central Military Commission Member, Deputy Minister of National Defence, Head of the Interagency Task Force, and Head of the Ministry of National Defence Steering Committee for UN Peacekeeping Operations, remarked that being assigned to UN peacekeeping missions is not only an honor for each individual but also for the Vietnamese People's Army. The areas where Vietnamese soldiers are deployed are remote, difficult and fraught with dangers. However, in over ten years of participating in this special humanitarian activity, the officers serving in individual positions have demonstrated their bravery, determination and professional competence to their international colleagues and friends.
The Deputy Minister of Defense has requested the three officers, upon arrival, to promptly grasp the local situation, immediately engage in their duties, fulfill their responsibilities effectively, and enhance their research, analysis and forecasting capabilities.
To date, Vietnam has sent 799 officers and employees to participate in peacekeeping activities at three missions and the United Nations headquarters.
MINUSCA Mission in the Central African Republic was established in April 2014 with the task of protecting civilians and supporting the transition of power in Central Africa in the context of many armed groups operating.
The UNMISS Mission in the Republic of South Sudan is the largest United Nations Peacekeeping Mission with nearly 18,000 personnel. South Sudan is having to deal with violence, natural disasters, economic instability, and political and military conflicts.
Abyei has an area of 10,546 square kilometers. The UNISFA mission was established to maintain, ensure security, safety and prevent conflicts and disputes./.