(Bqp.vn) - During his term of UN peacekeeping mission in Bambari under the Central African Republic Mission (MINUSCA), Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien - an officer of the Ministry of National Defense Office selected to join the UN peacekeeping force - has strived to overcome all difficulties, excellently completing the mission of a Vietnamese UN peacekeeping officer, leaving a good impression in the hearts of international friends, colleagues and local people.
"Any difficulty can be overcome"
Bambari is a town in Ouaka Province of the Central African Republic, located on the banks of the Ouaka River, with a tropical savanna climate with two distinct seasons (rainy season and dry season). During the rainy season, the roads are muddy, making travel and securing equipment and supplies for the MINUSCA Mission extremely difficult, especially at night, due to the lack of lighting systems, making travel even more difficult and always fraught with the risk of insecurity caused by rebel elements... The harshness of the weather, climate, conflicts, violence... makes this already poor and backward land always at risk of instability. There are times when the security situation escalates, directly threatening the safety, lives and property of the people, so the MINUSCA Mission considers Bambari one of the "hot spots" that need utmost attention.
Leaders of the Office of the Ministry of National Defense and the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of National Defense presented flowers to encourage Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien before leaving for the United Nations peacekeeping mission, December 2022.
When arriving in Bambari in early 2023, despite his careful mental preparation, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien was still "surprised" by the difficulties he had to face. In the place considered the most central of Bambari, there was only red soil, gravel and narrow thatched houses; the healthcare, education, electricity and clean water systems were almost non-existent. Everything was beyond the imagination of the Vietnamese "blue beret" officer. Difficulties piled on difficulties, in the first two months at the Mission, due to the complicated security situation, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien could not receive food, provisions and essential supplies transported by air from Vietnam. Meanwhile, local food and provisions were very scarce, rebel forces were constantly active, and the risk of insecurity was very high, so the MINUSCA Mission had to limit staff from leaving the barracks when not on duty.
During difficult times, the advice of leaders and commanders at all levels before leaving for the UN peacekeeping mission: "Carrying out missions far from the Fatherland, with many risks, it is even more necessary to make efforts to overcome difficulties, constantly uphold the spirit of international solidarity, proactiveness, flexibility, creativity, promote the spirit of self-reliance, self-improvement, professionalism, science, demonstrate the mettle and capacity... of the staff of the Ministry of National Defense Office"... has given Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien strength to overcome all difficulties and successfully complete the tasks entrusted to him by the Party, State, and Army.
“Every mission is accomplished”
With the scientific, careful, specific and meticulous working style of an officer of the Ministry of National Defense Office, along with his own efforts, a positive spirit of self-study and learning, and the support of international colleagues, after only a short time, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien quickly caught up with the work, and was trusted and highly appreciated by his superiors, friends and international colleagues. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien shared: “Working independently in a multinational working environment, with differences in culture, lifestyle, language as well as the complex nature of the work, requires each Vietnamese 'blue beret' officer to constantly learn and improve professional knowledge and skills; strive to overcome difficulties, uphold the spirit of international solidarity, be ready to receive and complete assigned tasks well, contribute to the United Nations peacekeeping mission, and contribute to beautifying the glorious tradition of the heroic Vietnam People's Army”.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien shares experiences with international colleagues.
To successfully fulfill the duties and tasks of a Vietnam People's Army officer participating in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, in addition to thoroughly grasping and seriously implementing the Party and State's foreign policy and viewpoints, strictly abiding by military discipline, United Nations regulations, the laws of the host country, and instructions from competent authorities, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien also regularly updates information and warnings from the Mission Security Agency, proactively studies and grasps the local situation, anticipates situations (that may occur), promptly advises and proposes plans to respond to conflicts, security threats or extremist actions caused by rebels, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property. At the same time, he actively studies documents, learns about local and foreign customs, practices, and cultures; He actively communicates and shares experiences with international colleagues, and is willing to take over colleagues' positions during their vacations. Thanks to that, he always receives respect and trust from colleagues and local people.
Representative of the UMISCA Mission Commander awarded Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien the Medal for his service to the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.
Expressing his affection and respect for the Vietnam People's Army officer who carried out the UN peacekeeping mission at the MINUSCA Mission, Colonel Jhalendra Bhattarai, Commander of the Bambari Task Force, commented that with his fairness, modesty, honesty, sincerity, and creativity in his daily activities, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien has successfully completed his tasks above all the criteria set out during his term of office, worthy of being a competent representative and an excellent ambassador of his country, making positive contributions to the UN peacekeeping mission of the MINUSCA Mission in Bambari. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien "has demonstrated the highest commitment to the values of the United Nations, making positive contributions to the UN peacekeeping force in Bambari in carrying out assigned tasks in a difficult and challenging combat environment" - Colonel Jhalendra Bhattarai emphasized.
Colonel MD Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Chief of Staff of the MINUSCA Military Mission, assessed that Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien is a capable officer with a positive approach to performing his duties; his performance and results at the MINUSCA Mission have exceeded all expectations.
Messenger of “peace and friendship”
Promoting the tradition of "fighting army, working army, production labor army" of the heroic Vietnam People's Army, taking advantage of free time and vacant land in the military area, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien actively improved the land, selected suitable vegetable varieties, to increase production.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien next to a row of green vegetables typical of Vietnam in Bambari.
The beds of green vegetables typical of Vietnam, such as water spinach, squash, amaranth, Malabar spinach... that he has painstakingly tended not only create a "Green - Clean - Beautiful" environmental landscape, but also contribute to alleviating the "heat" of Africa, directly improving the quality of meals with "green vegetables bearing the Vietnamese brand" of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Bambari. In particular, on holidays and Tet, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien also personally cooks Vietnamese dishes for international friends to enjoy. Vietnamese dishes, along with the flavors of Vietnamese tea and coffee... are all loved by international colleagues in Bambari.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien with international colleagues.
Through intimate meetings, exchanges, and discussions, international friends have a deeper understanding of the country, people of Vietnam, the Vietnam People's Army, and a peace-loving Vietnam, a friend, a trusted partner, and a responsible member of the international community, "with a policy of people-centered development, prioritizing human development and promoting equality in the country's socio-economic development strategies and plans"...
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien with local people and children.
Due to the nature of his work, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien regularly surveys, inspects and grasps the local situation. At each destination and each village he passes through, the Vietnamese “blue beret” soldier is welcomed and given affection by the local people.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Hien coordinated with international colleagues to carry out the mission.
In carrying out the UN peacekeeping mission, regardless of position, circumstance, or field of work, the UN peacekeeping force of the Vietnam People's Army always affirms its mettle, intelligence, responsibility, and professional capacity, and does not waver in the face of difficulties and challenges, gaining the trust, consensus, and support of the UN Peacekeeping Mission and the international community. The spirit of dedication, responsible work, and dedication of the Vietnamese "blue beret" soldiers has contributed to spreading the image of the country and the peace-loving Vietnamese people. The aspiration for peace has reached far through the active and responsible participation in the UN peacekeeping activities. Each officer of the Vietnam People's Army sent to perform this special mission is a messenger of peace, holding the responsibility of spreading the nation's aspiration for peace. The image of the red flag with a yellow star has become a beautiful symbol, the two words Vietnam resound proudly in distant countries. “Hello Vietnam” has become a warm greeting from international colleagues and local people whenever they meet Vietnamese “blue beret” soldiers.
Nguyen Bang - Chief of Information Technology Department of Ministry of National Defense
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