PRESS RELEASE

December 12, 2007

U.S. and Vietnam Collaborate on Seminar on “United Nations Security Council: Role of a Non-Permanent Member”

To help Vietnam prepare for its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, the Honolulu-based Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute for International Relations are co-hosting the seminar, “United Nations Security Council: Role of a Non-Permanent Member,” December 11-14, in Hanoi.

Participants in the seminar represent a broad range of Vietnamese government agencies, each of whom will be called upon to contribute to the formulation of Vietnam’s positions on issues of international peace and security that come before the Security Council.  Through the use of simulation exercises and discussions, the seminar will sharpen the participants’ abilities to assist senior policy makers by quickly developing practical ideas and recommendations appropriate to the role of a Security Council member.  Speakers at the seminar, including former U.S. ambassadors and scholars from the Honolulu Center, are experts on the practical aspects and challenges of UN Security Council membership.

In his remarks at the Opening Ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak said the United States welcomes Vietnam’s presence on the Security Council.  He noted that “I fully expect Vietnam will rise to this new challenge and perform with excellence and integrity.  I expect that our ongoing consultations on Security Council matters will contribute to greater mutual understanding and closer relations between our two countries.”

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