Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, May 3 (VNA) -- Turning its back on public opinions, the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom has made an out of tune move, worsening the gradually improved relations between Viet Nam and the U.S., says the national daily Nhan Dan (People).

The newspaper today runs a commentary entitled "Ignoring the Truth" flaying the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom's appeal to Congress not to ratify the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between Viet Nam and the U.S. The move aims to force Viet Nam to carry out religious freedom reformation.

The paper notes that public opinions have for long acknowledged that the Vietnamese Government has promulgated policies and taken practical measures to ensure the people's freedom rights, including religious and belief freedom.

Public opinions have also rejected actions by hostile forces to take advantage of religious issues to sabotage Viet Nam, the paper says.

It cites the fact that in recent days, the world public, including the U.S. public, has expressed goodwill toward Viet Nam's renewal and welcomed the success of the ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. International opinions have highly valued the Party's leading role and its persistent pursuit of the socialist path chosen by the Vietnamese people and expressed confidence in a bright prospect of Viet Nam in the process of national industrialization and modernization and integrating itself into the regional and international community.

The paper further says the country has just celebrated the 26th anniversary of the great victory on Apr. 30, 1975 - the liberation of the South and reunification of the country. U.S. opinions have also acknowledged great changes in Viet Nam and confessed the mistakes and crimes they had committed during the U.S. aggressive war in Viet Nam. They have also held the U.S. morally and legally responsible for Viet Nam.

Attaching the religious issue to the ratification of the BTA is an action running counter to the interests of the U.S. The move will surely be protested by U.S. public opnions, the paper affirsm.

Ignoring public opinions and the truth will not do them any good. The justice-loving public opinions will unmask their malicious schemes and actions, the paper says in conclusion.--VNA