Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, July 12 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh has again stressed that the relationship between Viet Nam and the United States is one between two sovereign states, which is established on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, non-intervention in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

"In that spirit, the Viet Nam-U.S. relations have been further improved over the past years," said Ms.Thanh, who was asked today, July 12, by Radio "The Voice of Viet Nam" to comment on some American congressmen's submission of a draft resolution titled "Act 2001 on Viet Nam's human rights" to the U.S. House of Representatives.

She also described the submission as a rude intervention in Viet Nam's internal affairs and also as a distortion of Viet Nam's situation, both of which run contrary to the United Nations Charter and all fundamental principles of international laws.

"These congressmen are deliberately undermining the constantly improved Viet Nam-U.S. ties," the spokeswoman pointed out.

We believe that such draft resolution is completely harmful to the development of Viet Nam-U.S. relations and will only harm the prestige of the draft resolution initiators."

Ms. Thanh also reaffirmed that in Viet Nam, all basic rights of the citizens are guaranteed by the Constitution and respected by the Government and people. These rights include freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to demonstrate, freedom to assemble, and freedom to follow or not to follow a religiour belief.--VNA