llustrative image (Source:VNA)

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on July 23 voted for Vietnam’s draft decision to dismiss the so-called Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF)’s application for consultative status with ECOSOC.

Vietnam’s decision was co-sponsored by Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as well as Comoros, Cuba, El Salvado, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

At the session, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, head of Vietnam ’s permanent representative mission to the UN, affirmed Vietnam ’s high appreciation of non-governmental organisations’ activities in international life and within nations.

The ambassador stated that the Vietnamese State and its law attach importance and facilitate the activities of thousands of political, social and vocational organisations operating in various fields in Vietnam.

At present, there are almost 1,000 NGOs operating in the country under different forms of socio-economic development cooperation, contributing to promoting understanding and friendship between Vietnamese and other people in the world, said Trung.

The Vietnamese diplomat called on ECOSOC members to back Vietnam ’s proposal not to hand over consultative status to KKF.

Trung provided evidence of KKF’s activities to sow divisions among the peoples, religions and ruin social order in Vietnam, violating basic principles of the United Nations Charter, including the principles of respecting territorial integrity and political independence of nations.

KKF has distorted the Vietnamese State ’s policy and the country’s real situation many times, said Trung, adding that the aforementioned goals and activities violate ECOSOC’s regulations as NGOs applying for consultative status must have goals in conformity with the spirit, purpose and principles of the UN Charter and must not engage in activities for political purposes against UN members.

The ambassador introduced the Vietnamese Constitution’s regulations that the State implements the policy of equality, solidarity and assistance among peoples, banning all discriminatory behaviour and sowing divisions, as well as measures to implement, and the unceasing improvement in the life of 54 ethnic groups living in the country, including the Khmer people.

Many countries in and outside the region agreed on Vietnam ’s proposal not to allow the KKF to have the consultative status./.