Socialist Republic of Vietnam

On September 7, 2001, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh has issued a Statement acknowledged the approval of BTA by the US House Representative but strongly criticised the approval of bill "Vietnam Human Right Act". The Statement is as following :

The Viet Nam - US Trade Agreement results from efforts made by Viet Nam and the United States and was concluded on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit. Early approval and implementation of the Agreement are in the interest of both Viet Nam and the United States. In this spirit, we recognise the approval of the Bilateral Trade Agreement by the US House of Representatives as a necessary step towards bringing it into life.

On the other hand, we strongly object to the approval of the so-called "Viet Nam Human Rights Act" by the House of Representatives. This Act constitutes a flagrant distortion of the real situation in Viet Nam, gross interference into Viet Nam's internal affairs, runs counter to the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, creates a perilous precedent in international relations linking trade and economic relations with unacceptable political conditions. This document reflects the attempts of some individuals to put pressure on and set conditions for relations with Viet Nam. It goes against the interests of the peoples of Viet Nam and the United States, stalls the improvement of the bilateral relations. It will certainly be condemned by the world public opinion.

Relations between Viet Nam and the United States are those between two sovereign states and can only be further developed on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. In this spirit, we vehemently reject the "Viet Nam Human Rights Act" and demand that this injudicious document be abrogated.

The United States itself carried out a brutal war of aggression in Viet Nam, seriously violating the Vietnamese people's fundamental rights. The Vietnamese people have undergone protracted and arduous struggle against foreign aggression, made untold sacrifices and suffered great losses to regain the most fundamental human rights to live in peace, independence, freedom and human dignity and the pursuit of happiness. The Vietnamese people are determined to preserve those sacred human rights and will not allow anyone to violate them.