Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The “Human Rights Act of Viet Nam – 2003” – H.R. 1587, which purports to promote “the US concern about human rights in Viet Nam” is a unilateral approach to an issue very sensitive to the relationship between Viet Nam and the United States for the people of each country have suffered greatly in the past war.

1) We would like to share our understanding of the importance of human rights as a principle.

HA NOI — Viet Nam’s achievements through the doi moi process, under the Party’s leadership, could be attributed to contributions by the entire nation, among them clergy and followers of various religions, including Buddhism, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai told Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang on Wednesday.

During talks with the monk at the Prime Minister’s Office in Ha Noi, Khai briefed the latter of the Party and State’s policies which respect citizens’ rights to freedom of religion.

Vietnam may join in international efforts to offer humanitarian aid to Iraq, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh said on April 3.

She said Vietnam has been following the developments in Iraq with great concern. The people of Vietnam and Iraq have a traditional relationship, she said, and the Vietnamese people are profoundly sympathetic to the sufferings and losses of the war which are causing to the Iraqi people.

Ha Noi, Apr. 3 (VNA) - Viet Nam flatly rejects allegations by the U.S. Department of State in the latter's 2002 report on human rights around the world, said a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry.

The spokeswoman, Phan Thuy Thanh, in response to a question by Vietnam News Agency, described the report as "blatant interference in Viet Nam's internal affairs."

She said "the U.S. authorities are not eligible to speak about human rights to criticize the human rights situation in other countries, particularly in light of the current situation."