Nuanced debate over religion continues despite call for Vietnam sanctions

Thu, 12/30/2010 - 13:23

(This article appeared in The Hill, Dec ,2010)

The annual debate over the State Department’s human rights report brings with it a series of resolutions and bills trying to punish – or at least spotlight – certain countries for violations of U.S. standards. Vietnam regularly receives attention for religious rights violations. This year, on top of sanctions bills, the Congressional Human Rights Commission held a hearing on a dispute in the central Vietnamese village of Con Dau that pitted Catholic villagers against riot police.

VN-US bilateral ties continue growing in 2010

 (VNA) The year of 2010 has seen the convergence of outcomes of the Vietnam-US bilateral ties during 15 years since the normalisation of the two countries’ relations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Cong Phung made the appraisal while granting an interview to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the Vietnam-US relations in 2010.

US Army General visits Vietnam

(VNA) Chief of Staff of the US Army Gen. George William Casey Jr., who is on a working visit to Vietnam, was warmly received by Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army at the headquarters of the Defense Ministry, on Nov. 22.

At the reception, Lieut. Gen. Khanh expressed his hope that the visit would help strengthen the relations and mutual understanding between the two countries’ armies and people.

US servicemen’s remains repatriated

(VNA) A repatriation ceremony of remains of US servicemen who died during the war in Vietnam was held at the Noi Bai International Airport on Nov. 30.

Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Personnel, the US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak and representatives from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.

U.S. State Department Report produces biased assessment on Viet Nam

Regarding Vietnam's response to the religious freedom in Viet Nam made by the U.S. State Department in its Annual Report on International Religious Freedom 2010, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Mrs. Nguyen Phuong Nga says:

"In Viet Nam, the rights to freedom of belief and religion of the Vietnamese people are enshrined in the national Constitution and are respected and guaranteed in reality. This fact is acknowledged by the international community.

US commits long-term engagement to EAS

(VNA) The US is committed to engaging to the East Asia Summit over the long term as it believes EAS will become a key forum for political and security issues in the Asia-Pacific, the US Secretary of State said.

“One of our highest priority is to reaffirm our commitment to the Asia-Pacific region,” Secretary Hillary Clinton said in her joint press briefing with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Hanoi on Oct. 30.

Vietnam supports US’s EAS full membership

(VNA) Vietnam supports the US to become a full member of the East Asia Summit (EAS), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

PM Dung made the remark at his meeting in Hanoi on Oct. 29 with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who came to attend the fifth EAS as a representative of US President B. Obama.

In 2010, the US has made important contributions to enhancing ties with ASEAN and deploying constructive policies in the region, especially the Greater Mekong Subregion Initiative, the PM said.

Vietnam-US develop relationship thrives

(VNA) Vietnam and the United States are enjoying an excellent period of bilateral relations, stated the Vietnamese Ambassador to the US, Le Cong Phung, at a workshop in Washington on September 14.

Vietnam ’s level of development, its cooperation and friendly relations over the last few years have benefited both countries and contributed to ensure peace and stability in Southeast Asia and East Asia , Phung told a workshop on Vietnamese-US relations, held by the East-West Centre in collaboration with the US Business Council, the Vietnamese Embassy and Office of Senator Jim Webb.

Vietnam-US diplomatic ties marked in US

(VNA) Fifteen years ago, US President Bill Clinton’s announcement on the normalisation of US ties with Vietnam opened a new chapter in the two countries’ relationship, said the Vietnamese Ambassador to the US.

US attitude is softer on Agent Orange problem

Thu, 07/15/2010 - 11:39

(VNA) The Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) General Secretary has recognised a slight shift in the US attitude towards solving the AO/Dioxin dilemma in Vietnam.

Tran Xuan Thu, who is also VAVA Vice President, revealed the recognition at an exclusive interview with VNA on the threshold of the third hearing on the problem to be held by the US House of Representatives on July 15.

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