Vietnamese deputy premier, US official discuss missing POWs

Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA web site Hanoi, 15 June: Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has reaffirmed the Vietnamese government's consistent policy, saying cooperation with the US in solving Americans missing in action (MIA) issue is a humanitarian activity. Speaking with Jerry Jennings, deputy assistant secretary of defence for prisoner of war (PoW)/missing personnel affairs, in Hanoi on Tuesday [15 June] afternoon, Dung stressed that the Vietnamese government and people will continue cooperating with the US in solving the issue more quickly and efficiently. He also asked for a larger US contribution to help the Vietnamese people overcome the aftermath of the war, especially the impacts of Agent Orange and clearance of mines and unexploded bombs dropped by US troops during the war in Vietnam. Dung emphasized the necessity to create an environment of mutual understanding, noting that actions against both peoples' benefits should be avoided. Jennings spoke highly of the Vietnamese government and people's goodwill and effective cooperation in solving MIA [missing in action] issue. Both the host and guest exchanged views on measures and initiatives to be carried out in the near future to solve this issue. Deputy PM Dung thanked Jennings who handed him newly-collected files on Vietnamese missing in action.

-- Nong Bi' Dai" (VietnancongSans@yahoo.com), August 08, 2004