Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The governments of Vietnam and the U.S. initialed a cooperation agreement on adoption in Hanoi on June 15.

The signatories were Vu Duc Long, head of the Justice Ministry's Department for International Child Adoption, and Ambassador Muara Harty, assistant secretary of state for U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs and Children Issues.

The two sides committed to create every favourable condition possible to facilitate the adoption of orphaned children on humanitarian grounds and for the purpose of child protection.

The two sides agreed on the application of appropriate measures under their respective laws to prevent and deal with adoption abuse involving child exploitation and other infringements on a child's lawful rights and interests.

They also recognized their respective national laws governing the licensing and oversight of adoption service providers.

Mr. Long said the agreement would be inked in Washington on the occasion of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's upcoming visit to the U.S.

He said the agreement would provide a legal ground for Americans to adopt Vietnamese children, and help orphaned and abandoned Vietnamese children be fostered by American families.

All potential parents must also be eligible under U.S. law, according to the agreement.

The agreement will create a mechanism to closely monitor the adoption of Vietnamese children through U.S. adoption organizations, Mr. Long stressed. Children will be adopted for humanitarian purposes only, he added.

(Reported by Xuan Danh)
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 16 June, 2005, 12:06:55 (GMT+7)
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