Letter to US Congressmen
July 12, 2004
Dear Representative:
I am writing to you to express serious concerns over the “Human Rights Act of 2004.” Before doing so, I would like to provide you with a summary of the achievements of the Vietnam-US relationship.
Economically, in the last decade, especially in the last two years, two–way trade has surged with American exports to Vietnam increased by three times since the entry into force of the Bilateral Trade Agreement in 2002.
Militarily, the first visit to the United States last November by Vietnamese Defense Minister Pham Van Tra laid the groundwork for bilateral military ties. This visit was followed by the USS Vandergrift’s historic port call on Ho Chi Minh City. The two countries have also intensified cooperation in the search for MIAs, the combat against terrorism and transnational crimes, HIV/AIDS, and many other areas. The bilateral cooperation in accounting for missing personnel has been rated by the DPMO as the best one compared to similar joint efforts that the United States has with other countries in the world. Vietnam is now preparing for the second ship call by another US navy vessel to Da Nang port later this month.
These developments and the positive trend serve the interests of the two peoples, deepen the relationship, and provide more of a common ground to address differences. And they need your support to grow.
Against this positive backdrop, however, some Representatives have, on the basis of non-objective and biased information, introduced the “Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2004,” calling for sanctions against Vietnam and may bring it for a vote on the House floor soon. This piece of legislation has offended the self-respect of the Vietnamese people, putting the trend of positive development in the bilateral relations at the risk. I am afraid if approved, it will negatively impact the Vietnam-US multi-faceted cooperation that the two countries have been trying so hard to build, thus seriously affecting the mutual interests of the two countries.
I realize that I am writing this letter on the 9th anniversary of the normalization of the relations between Vietnam and the United States. The anniversary gives me more reasons to earnestly urge that you and Vietnam work together to protect and build on your contributions to the bilateral relationship, the achievements of the past nine years, and reject that Bill.
I thank you for your attention.
For the Ambassador
Chargé d’AffairesVu Dang Dzung
Deputy Chief of the Mission
