VỤ THÔNG TIN BÁO CHÍ, BỘ NGOẠI GIAO NƯỚC CHXHCN VIỆT NAM

Press & Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of SR of Vietnam

7 Chu Văn An - Hà Nội, Điện thoại: 199 2516, Fax: 823 4137

No: 04/TCBC-NGĐ                                             Date: March 15^th , 2005

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I- MAIN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES IN THE 1^st  HALF OF MARCH 2005  (In chronological order)

OUTWARD VISITS

1. From 25^th-26^th February 2005, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister, Chairman of   the Joint Committee on the Vietnam-Cambodia Border Vu Dung attended the meeting of the Joint Committee on the Vietnam-Cambodia Border held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

2. From 25^th-28^th February 2005, a delegation of the Education and Training Ministry led by Minister Nguyen Minh Hien paid a working visit to Laos.

3. On 2^nd March 2005, a high-ranking military delegation led by Defense Minister General Pham Van Tra paid a working visit to Laos.

4. From 6^th-10^th March 2005, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien paid an official visit to Japan.

5. On 11^th March 2005, at the invitations of President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Italy, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Belgium, Leader of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, President of the National Council of the Federation of Switzerland and President of the European Parliament, a delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly led by Chairman Nguyen Van An started official friendship visits to the above-mentioned 4 countries and the European Parliament.

6. From 12^th-21^st  March 2005, a delegation led by Trade Minister  Truong Dinh Tuyen is attending the 2^nd meeting of the Vietnam-Egypt Joint Committee and participating  in the International Fair held in Cairo, Egypt.

INWARD VISITS

1. On 28^th February 2005, a delegation from the Agriculture Ministry of the Philippines led by Minister Atty Arthur C.Yap paid a working visit to Vietnam.

2. On 7^th March 2005, Secretary of State for Tourism and Commerce of Spain Pedro Mejia paid a working visit to Vietnam.

3. From 15^th-18^th March 2005, Deputy Foreign Minister of Denmark, Deputy Minister of State in charge of bilateral cooperation P.Peterson will visit Vietnam and attend the high-level consultative meeting on development cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark.

II- ANSWERS BY FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LE DZUNG TO QUESTIONS FROM CORRESPONDENTS (in chronological order)

On 1^st  March 2005,

DPA, VOV and VNA: Please advise Vietnam's reaction to the U.S State Department's 2004 Human Rights Report, a part of which is on Vietnam.

Answer: While acknowledging positive developments in Vietnam, the U.S State Department’s 2004 Human Rights Report still maintains biased assessments on Vietnam’s human right situation. We absolutely reject these wrongful assessments.

The State of Vietnam always strives to ensure that our people can enjoy increasingly better and adequate conditions to realize human rights. It is also the foundation for all the policies and activities of the State of Vietnam. Vietnam has recorded great achievements in building a law-governed State along the direction of building Vietnam into a country of "prosperous people, strong nation, equitable, democratic and civilised society".

The State of Vietnam pays special attention to the construction and completion of the law system, legal frameworks and necessary institutions in order to better exercise and protect the people's freedoms as well as their economic, cultural and social rights. This is the target of all efforts by the executive and legislative bodies.

The State of Vietnam respects and protects freedom of beliefs and religions and freedom of non-belief or religion of its citizens. All religions which have religious goals and principles, purposes, guidelines and organization in line with Vietnamese laws, are permitted to be practiced. A number of laws have been promulgated to facilitate religious beliefs' activities, most recently the Prime Minister’s Instructions on Protestant Affairs.

In Vietnam, there is no religious repression or racial discrimination, no one is detained for different political opinions. Only those who violate the law are handled with in accordance with Vietnamese laws.

On 9^th March 2005

RIA-Novosti: Please provide Vietnam's reaction to the death of the Chechen separatist leader Maskhadov and Vietnam's comment on the policy of Russian leaders to counter terrorism and build a peaceful life in the Republic of Chechnya?

Answer: Consistently, Vietnam strongly condemns terrorism and barbaric acts by terrorists.

Vietnam always stands by the Russian people in the fight against terrorism and supports measures taken by leaders of the Russian Federation against terrorism to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity, stabilize the situation in Chechnya and bring a peaceful life to all people.

On 10^th March 2005,

AFP: Please confirm information reported by Radio Free Asia that policemen in Ho Chi Minh City broke up a Protestant praying service at Nguyen Hong Quang’s residence on March 8, 2005?

Answer: According to competent authorities, there was no such an incident as reported by Radio Free Asia. 

On 11^th March 2005,

Question: Please advise Vietnam's comment on the decision by the Judge of the US Federal Court in Brooklyn to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Vietnamese Agent Orange victims?

Answer: Vietnamese people is very discontented at the ruling by the US Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York on March 10^th 2005. Whatever the ruling is, it cannot change the truth that the Agent Orange/Dioxin used by the US army during the Vietnam war has caused severe consequences to humans and environment in Vietnam. Over 40 years have elapsed but these consequences still profoundly affect the socio-economic life in Vietnam. This fact has been testified in research projects by the US and Vietnamese scientists. Millions of Agent Orange/Dioxin victims are infected with fatal diseases and tens of thousands of their offsprings are born with congenital defects. Consequently, they now live in untold discomfort, suffering from physical and mental pain.

It is a legitimate action by the Agent Orange/Dioxin victims in Vietnam to file their lawsuit against the US Agent Orange/Dioxin producers. Those companies must bear legal accountability to the chemical victims, who are not only American veterans but also the Vietnamese.

We are confident that the fight for justice for Agent Orange/Dioxin victims will continue drawing great attention and gaining strong support from the world community, including individuals and organizations in the US.

It is an extremely urgent humanitarian issue to resolve the consequences of the Agent Orange/Dioxin. These US chemical companies should acknowledge their responsibility, fulfill their legal, spiritual and moral obligations and make practical contribution to settling the consequences of Agent Orange/Dioxin used by the US army during the war to humans and environment in Vietnam.  

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