Socialist Republic of Vietnam

May 3, 2001, Foreign Ministry Spokewoman Phan Thuy Thanh answered questions of correspondent BBC and Time: Please provide comments on the accounts given by villagers about the actions committed by the former Senator Bob Kerrey's squad in Thanh Phong, Ben Tre during the Vietnam War. Does Vietnam consider these actions a war crime and What is the US responsibility in solving war legacies particularly the Agent Orange issue?

Answer:

"We respect the accounts given by villagers. We understand that the sufferings and losses caused by Mr. Kerrey's unit that victims families in Thanh Phong have endured are incomparable.

A person hardest suffering is his conscience tormented especially because of his past crimes. Therefore, we think that the best way to reach peace of mind for Mr. Kerrey as well as other Americans who used to take part in the Vietnam War is to take concrete and realistic actions to contribute to healing the war wounds that they caused in Vietnam.

Sufferings and losses caused by the American war of aggression that have been shouldered by the Vietnamese people are very heavy and enormous. Solving war legacies including the effect of Agent Orange is a pressing humanitarian issue. We believe that the United States should exercise its spiritual and moral obligations, make practical contributions to solving war legacies.

Prompted by the tradition of humanitarianism and reconciliation, in relations with the United States as well as with those countries that used to have a hostile time with Vietnam, we advocate continuing cooperation, strengthening mutual understanding, promoting better relations between Vietnam and the United States, thus helping solve past consequences. "