Vietnam welcomes positive moves in Iraq
HA NOI — Viet Nam thought the establishment of Iraq’s provisional Governing Council and Cabinet is a step toward establishing a government chosen by the country’s people, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said on Thursday.
It was hoped the Iraqi people would soon vote for a government in conformity with their aspiration and their right to self-determination, he said while answering questions from a Viet Nam News Agency correspondent. Viet Nam respected Iraq’s independence and sovereignty and its people’s right to self-determination, he said.
The spokesman emphasized that Viet Nam strongly condemned all acts of terrorism against innocent Iraqi civilians saying they were detrimental to the process of peace and stability in the country.
It was hoped that security and order would soon be re-established so that the Iraqi people could recover and take part in national rehabilitation, he said.
He also expressed Viet Nam’s support for a UN’s role in Iraq’s reconstruction, including the co-ordination of and participation in peace-keeping and social stabilisation in the country.
Deepest condolences
Asked for Viet Nam’s response to the murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh’s in Stockholm on Wednesday, Dung replied: "We were stunned by the news and would like to convey our deepest condolences to the Swedish Government and people and the bereaved family."
He praised Anna Lindh as an outstanding Swedish politician, who had made considerable contributions to peace, stability and development in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
"A good friend of the Vietnamese Government and people, Anna Lindh actively contributed to further strengthening friendship and co-operation between Sweden and Viet Nam," the spokesman said.
Fighting terrorism
Dung told a Reuters correspondent, who asked about for Viet Nam’s response to the second anniversary of the September 11 attack against America, that the country was committed to fighting all forms of terrorism.
"We will continue to work closely together with the international community in the struggle against terrorism," he said, noting that the fight will be based on the spirit of the UN Charter and international law as well as the national independence and sovereignty of nations.
"Viet Nam deems it necessary to eliminate terrorism from human life," he said referring to eight international conventions against terrorism to which Viet Nam is a signatory.
Dung reaffirmed Viet Nam’s efforts to expand its co-operation with the US against terrorism and called on Washington and relevant countries to co-ordinate with Ha Noi in anti-terrorism activities in Viet Nam. — VNS
