At the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) discussion of the border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea in New York on September 17, the Vietnamese deputy representative to the UNSC, Ambassador Hoang Chi Trung expressed concern at the escalation of tension between the two countries, most notably the military build-up by both sides along the border and the breakdown of their diplomatic relations.

The ambassador underlined the fundamental principle to be applied to such a situation that every dispute and conflict should be resolved through peaceful negotiations in a manner consistent with international law and the UN Charter.
“Dispute and conflict can never be resolved without the engagement and political will of all the parties concerned,” said the Vietnamese diplomat, urging Eritrea to fulfill its international obligation and responsibility to work constructively with the UN and other regional mechanisms with a view to peacefully resolving the border dispute with Djibouti.

Ambassador Trung shared the views in the report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission that both sides, especially the State of Eritrea, should exert efforts to implement political engagements and conduct peaceful dialogues.
He proposed that the UN Secretary General, in coordination with regional efforts, continue to encourage dialogue, generate political space and create an entry point for diffusing the tension and resolving the bilateral dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti.