(Dịch theo tin Washington Post Foreign Service, ngày 17/6/2005 từ Hà Nội của ký giả Ellen Nakashima)

 

Thủ Tướng Phan Văn Khải chiều thứ năm ngày 16 tháng 6, 2005 để chuẩn bị cho chuyến công du đầu tiên tại Hoa Kỳ đã tuyên bố: Việt Nam (VN) và Hoa Kỳ (HK) sẽ hợp tác trong việc trao đổi tin tình báo về các họat động khủng bố và việc dẫn độ các tội phạm, Việt Nam cũng sẽ gởi các sĩ quan để được huấn luyện tại Hoa Kỳ. 

Việc hợp tác trao đổi tin tình báo va huấn luyện quân sự sẽ được công bố trong tuần tới nhân chuyến công du của giới chức cao cấp nhất của Cộng Sản Việt Nam sau khi chiến tranh kết thúc vào năm 1975. Thủ Tướng Khải sẽ gặp Tổng Thống Bush và Bộ Trưởng Quốc Phòng Rumsfeld vào ngày Thư Ba 21 tháng 6, 2005.

Chuyến công du của Khải nhằm đẩy mạnh tiến trình hợp tác quân sự giửa VN và HK, điều này cho thấy sự tiến gần hơn trong 10 năm giửa hai quốc gia kể từ khi TT Bill Clinton thiết lập bang giao với VN. Các bình luận gia cho rằng chuyến công du của Khải lần này  đánh dấu một sự kiện lịch sử quan trọng và cho thấy tiến trình hợp tác hổ tương chủ yếu về an ninh và mậu dịch đang trên đà tiến triển tốt đẹp. 

 Trong 75 phút phỏng vấn tại văn phòng thủ tướng cách lăng Hồ Chí Minh không xa, Khải nói: “Sau 30 năm từ khi chiến tranh chấm dứt, chính sách của chúng tôi là quên đi quá khứ, nhìn về tương lai, và cố gắng xây dựng tình hữu nghi giửa hai quốc gia càng ngày càng thêm tốt đẹp.”

Khải, được coi là nhân vật có khuynh hướng cởi mở kinh tế, sẽ gặp Bill Gates, Chủ Tịch của công ty Microsoft, và sẽ được danh dự rung chuông Thị Trường Chứng Khóan (New York Stock Exchange.) Và chắc chắn Khải sẽ phải trả lời về những vi phạm nhân quyền chất vấn từ các dân biểu HK và từ cộng đồng người Mỹ gốc Việt  đòi hỏi tự do tôn giáo và chính trị.   

Một trong các mục tiêu quan trọng trong chuyến đi này là Khải sẽ cố thuyết phục TT Bush tuyên bố hổ trợ cho VN gia nhập Cơ Quan Mậu Dịch Quốc Tế (World Trade Union – WTO.) Được gia nhập WTO sẽ giúp VN cạnh tranh mậu dịch mạnh hiệu quả hơn, đặc biệt VN đang lo ngại về  sức mạnh kinh tế của Trung Hoa càng ngày càng bành trướng trong vùng  Đông Nam Á.  

Chuyến đi này của Khải nằm trong nổ lực của VN muốn có tiếng nói mạnh hơn trên bang giao quốc tế vì đây là một nhu cầu cần thiết cho sự liên tục phát triển tốt đẹp kinh tế của VN. Ngoài ra Khải cũng muốn thiết lập một liên hệ tốt với cộng đồng Mỹ gốc Việt đang càng ngày càng lớn mạnh; Khải nói: “Họ là một phần của dân tộc VN, và là nguồn đem lại tài nguyên quan trọng cho quốc gia.”

Khải tiếp: “ Trong thời chiến, cùng trong một gia đình có người bên này có người bên kia. Dân tộc VN đã gánh chịu quá nhiều đau khổ. Đó là lý do chúng tôi muốn bỏ qua quá khứ và chỉ nhìn về tương lai.”

Khải gia nhập “thanh niên cách mạng cộng sản” VN năm 1947,  coi về  kế hoạch trong thời chiến tranh VN, và sau đó được Quốc Hội Công Sản VN chọn  làm thủ tướng năm 1997.

Nói về khủng bố, Khải chỉ nhắm vào các cá nhân bạo động chống chính phủ hơn là nói đến nhóm “Al Qaeda”, hoặc  các tổ chức Hồi Giáo cực đoan  vì các nhóm này không có hoạt động tại VN. 

Matthew P. Daley, cựu Phụ Tá Bộ Trưởng Ngoại Giao về Đông Nam Á Châu và Thái Bình Dương Sự Vụ, bây giờ là Chủ Tịch của Hội Đồng Thương Mại MỸ Á ( US-Asean Business Council), nói rằng: “Có nhiều vấn đề quan trọng  trong tương lai không nhất thiết chỉ có vấn đề khủng bố mà HK muốn VN hợp tác chặt chẻ hơn chẳng hạn: vấn đề buôn lậu ma túy,  đánh cấp và  chế tạo bôm nguyên tử, …”

Nói về “Chương Trình Huấn Luyện Quân Sự Quốc Tế“ (International Military Education Training (IMET) program), Khải nói VN tham gia IMET hạn chế trong lãnh vực huấn luyện Anh ngữ và y học cho một số ít sĩ quan. Theo các bình luân gia, điều này cho thấy VN chưa có ý định tham gia với HK về hợp tác phòng thủ quân sự.

Theo Carlyle Ạ Thayer,  bình luận gia về quốc Phòng cho Trung Tâm Huấn Luyện Quốc Phòng Úc Đại Lợi, “IMET là một bước tiến lớn.” Carlyle vừa mới hoàn tất chương trình giảng dạy ở đại học Johns Hopkins, chuyên khoa về Nghiên Cứu Quốc Tế Cao Cấp (Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies) tại Hoa Thịnh Đốn,  và bây giờ đang ở Hà Nội cố vấn cho Bộ Quốc Phòng.  VN lo ngại việc tham gia IMET sẽ bị chú ý và xoi mói nhiều thêm về các dữ kiện vi phạm nhân quyền, tuy nhiên,  Khải nói: “VN đồng ý tham gia chứng tỏ VN đã dẹp bỏ những phản đối.”

Các bình luận gia cũng như các cựu nhân viên chính phủ cho rằng rất khó mà thẩm định  tiến triển về ngoại giao giửa hai nước.  Chẳng hạn vào cuối thập niên 1980, việc hợp tác tìm kiếm các quân nhân Mỹ  còn bị cầm tù và mất tích (POW-MIA) trong thời chiến tranh VN thật là khó khăn.        

Douglas “Pete” Wilson, Đại Sư đầu tiên tại VN sau chiến tranh, và cũng là một cựu tù nhân chiến tranh, nói rằng “vấn đề tiến triển về POW-MIA đã làm cho liên hệ Mỹ-Việt them trơn tru hơn.” 

Kể từ năm 1988, VN đã giúp HK tìm và nhận diện được hơn 500 quân nhân Mỹ bị chết hoặc mất tích, và HK cũng đã giúp VN tìm được hài cốt của hằng trăm quân nhân bị mất tích trong thời chiến.

Trong 18 tháng vừa qua 3 chiến hạm HK đã  cập bến thăm viếng VN.  Sẽ có thêm nhiều chiến hạm nữa thăm viếng VN trong tương lai, tuy nhiên, theo các bình luân gia và  các cựu giới chức chính phủ nói rằng không ai nghỉ rằng sẽ có căn cứ quân sự Mỹ hoặc mở lại các căn cứ củ trong một thời gian ngắn.

Chuyến viếng thăm VN của Clinton năm 2000 là một cuộc thăm viếng đầu tiên của một  tổng thống HK sau khi chiến tranh kết thúc, cuộc viếng thăm này  cũng  được coi là đã bắt một “nhịp cầu” cho Khải thăm viếng HK lần này. Vào năm 2001, TT Clinton đã ký lại hiệp ước giao thương giửa hai nước (Bilateral Trade Agreement - (BTA.) Kể từ BTA được áp dụng, mậu dịch vớ HK đã tăng từ 1,5 tỉ đến 6,4 tỉ Mỹ kim vào năm 2004, 20 lần gia tăng chỉ trong vòng 10 năm. Khải cũng ghi nhận VN xuất cảng sang HK tăng từ 800 triệu Mỹ kim năm 2001 đến 5 tỉ Mỹ kim trong năm rồi.

Những gười lãnh đạo về thương mại cho rằng VN vẫn còn phải đi  thêm một đoạn đường dài nữa để có thể phát triển tốt đẹp, nhất là trong lãnh vực  tài chánh và  việc bảo vệ quyền sáng chế.  

Khải mang theo một phái đoàn hùng hậu gồm hơn 200 chuyên viên, trong đó co 81 chuyên viên thương mại. Khải sẽ gặp các lãnh đạo của  cơ quan lập pháp HK (ỤS. Congress), các vị này sẽ đòi hỏi VN phải bải bỏ hạn chế về tôn giáo và đối lập chính trị. Vào tháng 9 năm 2004 , HK đã liệt VN vào danh sách các quốc gia có đàn áp và hạn chế tự do tôn giáo.

Trong cuộc phỏng vấn Khải viện dẫn rằng “mục đích tối hậu của cách mạng VN” là “tự do và dân chủ,” tuy nhiên, Khải tiếp: “ Sự đổi mới về chính trị và kinh tế phải được phối hợp chặt chẻ và hài hoà với nhau.”     

Để  chống đở lại các sự chỉ trích, Khải nói: “Chúng tôi không có tù nhân lương tâm (prisoners of science) ở VN.  Khải tiếp: “Lịch sử nhiều ngàn năm của VN đã chứng tỏ là chưa bao giờ có xung đột tôn giáo.”

Vừa qua, chính phủ đã khẳng định rằng sự ép buột từ bỏ tín ngưỡng là trái luật,  và những nhà thờ không chính thống (unofficial churches), đặc biệt ở Trung Nguyên sẽ được giúp đở xin giấy phép để được hợp pháp.

Hơn một triệu người Mỹ gốc Việt  cho rằng  việc làm của Cộng Sản VN chỉ nữa vời. Ông Tần Nguyễn, Chủ Tịch Cộng Đồng VN tại Hoa Thịnh Đốn, Maryland và Virginia,  nói rằng: “Điều trước tiên Thủ Tướng Khải phải làm là trả lại TỰ DO và DÂN CHỦ cho dân tộc Việt Nam.”  Cộng Đồng dự định tổ chức biểu tình trước tòa Bạch Ốc  (White House) khi Khải đến gặp TT Bush vào ngày Thứ Ba 21 tháng 6, 2005.”

VN và HK dự trù sẽ công bố tiếp tục chương trinh xin con nuôi trẻ em VN. VN đã bải bỏ chương trình xin con nuôi quốc tế từ năm 2002, HK thu nhận trên 700 con nuôi trẻ em VN mổi năm./.

 

washingtonpost.com

Vietnam, U.S. to Improve Intelligence, Military Ties
Premier Discusses Goals Before Visit

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, June 17, 2005; A01

HANOI, June 16 -- Once enemies in battle, Vietnam and the United States will cooperate in the exchange of intelligence on terrorism and transnational crime, and Vietnam will send military officers for training in the United States, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said Thursday on the eve of the first U.S. trip by a top Vietnamese Communist leader.

The intelligence and military cooperation agreements will be announced when Khai visits next week, marking the highest-level visit to the United States since the Communists won the war in 1975. He will meet with President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday.

The move to forge solid military ties between Vietnam and the United States shows how far the relationship has advanced in the 10 years since President Bill Clinton established formal diplomatic relations. The trip will be a milestone, analysts said, a signal that a mature relationship based on mutual interests in security and trade is beginning to take shape.

"During the war, Vietnam and the United States were opponents," Khai said during a 75-minute interview at his office in the capital, which is within walking distance of the mausoleum holding the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, the independence leader and North Vietnamese president during the war. "Now that 30 years have elapsed since the end of the war, it is our policy to put aside the past and look to the future and a better relationship between the two countries."

Khai, an economic modernizer, will meet Bill Gates, the chairman of Microsoft Corp., and ring the bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. He will also face questions about Vietnam's human rights record. Congressional leaders and leaders in the Vietnamese American community are pressing Vietnam to allow greater religious and political freedom.

One of Khai's goals is to persuade Bush to declare his support for Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization, which would allow Vietnam to compete on more even footing in a region nervously eyeing China's growing economic power.

Khai's trip is part of a wider effort by Vietnam to establish stronger relations globally, and analysts say the trip's success is crucial if economic reforms are to continue to flourish.

Khai also said he wanted to reach out to the sizable Vietnamese American community, saying, "They are an integral part of our nation and a very important resource for our country."

"Some stood on that side, some on the other side, even in one family" during the war, Khai said. "A lot of suffering has been put on the Vietnamese people. That's why we would like to put behind us the past and look forward to the future."

Khai, 71, was a member of Vietnam's revolutionary youth group in 1947, served as a government planner during the Vietnam War and was chosen prime minister by the country's Communist-governed National Assembly in 1997.

He said the intelligence agreement with the United States would extend to money-laundering and would entail the creation of positions to handle intelligence-sharing in the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi as well as in the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington.

"Terrorism has become a global threat," Khai said. "To eliminate terrorism . . . and to prevent it from causing catastrophic consequences to innocent people has become a pressing issue that requires joint efforts and cooperation of different countries. Vietnam is not an exception regarding this threat."

By terrorism, Khai was referring to violent anti-government activists rather than al Qaeda or other radical Islamic organizations, which are not known to have a presence in Vietnam.

The United States wants Vietnam's cooperation on issues such as drug smuggling, piracy and eventually nuclear proliferation, said Matthew P. Daley, former deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs and Pacific affairs and now President of the US-ASEAN Business Council. "There's a range of future possibilities out there that are not strictly terrorist."

Though Khai said Vietnam's participation in the International Military Education Training program will be limited for now to English language and medical training for a handful of military officers, it is a significant sign that Vietnam is willing to engage the United States in defense cooperation, analysts said.

"IMET is a major breakthrough," said Carlyle A. Thayer, a defense analyst with the Australian Defense Force Academy who just completed a teaching appointment at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington and is in Hanoi to consult with the Defense Ministry. Vietnam had been concerned that participating in the program would invite unwanted scrutiny of its human rights record, but by agreeing to join, he said, "it has put its major objection aside."

It is difficult to overstate the extent of the two countries' diplomatic progress, analysts and former U.S. officials say. The arduous process to forge cooperation in searching for remains of U.S. prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action began in the late 1980s.

Today, notes Douglas "Pete" Peterson, the first U.S. ambassador to Vietnam after the war and a former prisoner of war there, the progress made on the POW-MIA issue has become "the lubricant" of the relationship.

Since 1988, Vietnam has helped the United States recover and identify the remains of more than 500 U.S. service members killed or missing during the war, and the United States has helped Vietnam find the remains of hundreds of soldiers missing since the war.

In the last 18 months, three U.S. naval warships have docked in Vietnam. More such visits are expected, though no one is contemplating stationing U.S. military personnel or reopening bases in the near future, said analysts and former U.S. officials.

Clinton's successful trip to Vietnam in 2000, the first by an American president since the war, set the stage for Khai's visit. The signing that year of a bilateral trade agreement greatly boosted trade. Since 2001, when the pact took effect, trade with the United States has gone from $1.5 billion to $6.4 billion in 2004, 20 times higher than it was a decade ago, Khai noted. Vietnamese exports to the United States have soared from $800 million in 2001 to $5 billion last year.

Vietnam still has a long way to go, business leaders contend. They say it needs to make progress on a variety of issues, including opening access to financial service sectors and improving intellectual property protection.

When Khai -- who is bringing a delegation of more than 200 people, including 81 business people -- arrives in Washington, he will meet congressional leaders who will urge that Vietnam's economic progress be matched by progress in lifting restrictions on churches and political dissent. In September, the United States placed Vietnam on its list of countries about which it has concerns regarding religious freedom.

In the interview, Khai referred to Vietnam's "ultimate revolutionary goal" of "freedom and democracy," but said, "Political reforms and economic reforms should be closely harmonized."

"We have no prisoners of conscience in Vietnam," he said in response to criticism. In addition, he said, "the history of Vietnam for thousands of years has shown that there has never been a religious conflict in this nation."

This year, the government said that forced renunciations of faith were illegal and that unofficial churches, especially in the central highlands, should be given assistance to register legally.

But for critics among the more than 1 million Vietnamese Americans, that is not enough. "The first thing we request is that Mr. Khai restore freedom and democracy for the Vietnamese people," said Tan Nguyen, chairman of the civic organization Vietnamese Community of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Members are planning to hold a demonstration in front of the White House when Khai meets Bush.

Vietnam and the United States also will announce the resumption of U.S. adoptions of Vietnamese children. Before the suspension of all international adoptions here in 2002, U.S. adoptions of Vietnamese children exceeded 700 a year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601710.html

 

==

 washingtonpost.com

Transcript: Interview with Phan Van Khai

From The Washington Post
Thursday, June 16, 2005; 11:48 PM

Hanoi -- June 16, 2005

The Washington Post: This is the first time a Vietnam PM is visiting the United States in 30 years. What do you see as the significance of this trip?

Khai: I think my visit to the United States is important. This is the first visit by a high-level leader of Vietnam to the United States, and the leader of a unified Vietnam. This is happening for the first time in 30 years and especially in the 10 years since the two countries have normalized their relationship.

I think during the last 10 years the two countries have accomplished a great deal. The purpose of my visit is to promote the relationship between the two countries to a higher plane. Through this visit we hope to build a constructive, long term, stable partnership between the two countries. Our ultimate goal is to further expand our relationship with the United States.

TWP: What specifically will you ask from President Bush? What will be at the very top of your agenda?

Khai: Number one is to set the framework of the long-term relationship in the 21st century. Two, I would also like him to declare his support for Vietnam's accession to World Trade Organization. Third is PNTR [note: permanent normal trading relations, which is a prerequisite to WTO membership]. Number 4 is to recognize Vietnam as a market economy with the removal of the Jackson-Vanick amendment [which denies most favored nation trade status to countries that do not allow free emigration]. Number 5 is to address the issues left by the war. We would like the United States to have the appropriate form of assistance to clear land mines and to help dioxin victims of Agent Orange. Those are the humanitarian issues for Vietnam.

TWP: What do you see as the major accomplishments of this relationship since normalization?

Khai: Since the entry of the US-Vietnam Bilateral trade agreement, two-way trade increased from $1.5 billion US in 2001 to $6.4 billion in 2004, which is 20 times higher than that of 1995.

Relations between the two countries have also been developed in political, diplomatic, science, technology, anti-terrorism and health fields. Humanitarian issues have also seen good progress. Vietnam has worked very closely and actively with the U.S. in finding the remains of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam. The U.S. also has provided assistance for Vietnam in clearing the landmines, finding the remains of Vietnamese soldiers missing since the war and providing assistance for disabled people, especially children in war-devastated areas.

In crucial areas such as defense and security, we also have agreed with the U.S. to implement IMET [International Military Education Training] and of course steps will be taken for Vietnam to participate in this program. The first step would be English training or training in medical expertise and other military expertise. After that, based on needs and requirements, we will take appropriate steps to increase our participation. During the visit to Washington, I am expected to visit the secretary of defense and will announce this issue.

We also will have an agreement on intelligence cooperation and in our embassy in Washington and our U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, there will be a staff post to share this intelligence, especially intelligence information on terrorism, transnational crimes and money-laundering, and for the two sides to increase the exchange of intelligence.

TWP: Vietnam is clearly moving to strengthen military and security ties with the United States. What is the significance of the intelligence sharing and why are you doing it now?

Khai: The significant developments in the relations between Vietnam and the U.S. during the last 10 years have paved the way for the two countries to further advance into areas of joint cooperation including security and defense by sharing intelligence in countering terrorism, trans-national crimes and money-laundering.

Terrorism has become a global threat. To eliminate terrorism from humankind's life and to prevent it from causing catastrophic consequences to innocent people has become a pressing issue that requires joint efforts and cooperation of different countries. Vietnam is not an exception regarding this threat. We have committed to work side-by-side with neighboring countries and with the U.S. in countering terrorism. Vietnam has actively cooperated with the U.S. in some concrete fields, including enhancing security for U.S. representative agencies in Vietnam, strengthening cooperating in fighting money laundering, sharing information on trans-national crimes, etc. At the same time, we call on the U.S. and other countries concerned to work with Vietnam to prevent and strictly punish those who attempt to carry out terrorist acts against Vietnam.

TWP: In the area of trade and economics, Vietnam would like to join the WTO by the end of this year. Reaching agreement with the United States is key to that. How do you think this trip will bring you closer to your goal? Do you expect any significant breakthroughs?

Khai: It is always Vietnam's wish to conclude bilateral negotiations with Vietnam. And a big negotiation team with Vietnam is in the States for negotiation. We wish that the U.S. will conclude negotiations with Vietnam as early as possible.

TWP: Is it likely that you will win entry this year?

Khai: I have very strong hopes that Vietnam will be able to join the WTO. But this should not be the last resort because every year WTO has a ministerial meeting to admit new members. I'd like to emphasize that Vietnam membership to WTO will be beneficial to both U.S. and Vietnam, especially for U.S. businesses, which will have better opportunities to do business in Vietnam.

TWP: Vietnam is moving toward a market economy. But there are areas that discourage investors, lack of transparency in regulations, caps on foreign ownership, lack of market access, especially in the financial services sector. How do you propose to speed reforms in these areas? Will you have any announcements to make in this regard?

Khai: I think during the last 20 years of reform since doi moi [the name given to the Vietnamese economic reform program started 1986], Vietnam has achieved great successes. Important achievements have been recorded, that is, thanks to the sound domestic and foreign policy given the domestic and international context. For the last 20 years of doi moi and reform process, we have drawn a very important lesson that we need to continue the reforms to have success. Political reforms and economic reforms should be closely harmonized. During the last 20 years of reform, the investment climate has been substantially improved. More than $40 billion U.S. has been invested in Vietnam in about 3,000 FDI projects. Besides, ODA has amounted to $23 billion . . . with major donors like World Bank and Japan. Given increasing globalization and competition in trade and investment, Vietnam is required to make greater efforts to accelerate reforms to attract foreign direct investment.

It is our determination to remove any obstacles to foreign investment. Every year the government has meetings with investors. During such meetings we listen to their comments and concerns and we work with them to address issues facing them. Every year we also have two meetings with the donor community. More than one week ago, our deputy prime minister had a meeting with the donor community in Vietnam and at the meeting this year there were less complaints than before.

The rapid growth of about 7.5 percent a year -- and exports increased about 16 percent a year for last 10 years with effective use of ODA -- has been highly appreciated by donors. The implementation of national poverty program has been highly commented by donors. According to the World Bank, Vietnam has set a record for poverty reduction for other countries to follow.

TWP: You noted that political reforms must accompany economic reforms. Economic progress is evident to any visitor to Vietnam. But at the same time, analysts say the space for political freedom has not opened as quickly. Can you address that discrepancy?

Khai: Do you know why we have attained great success in economic reforms? Political reforms are the premise for economic reforms. In the past, Vietnam followed the centrally planned economy. After that, new mechanisms have been introduced with the market economy in Vietnam. That is not purely economic reform, but it should be an important policy decision in terms of political reform. You can see that democracy has been further promoted and improved in Vietnam. In the past, the Vietnamese economy consisted only of two sectors, the state and cooperative sectors. And now many other economic sectors have been established and all the Vietnamese people are allowed to develop businesses in different sectors. Therefore, internal resources from different sectors have been raised to ensure the country's rapid economic growth.

To ensure that the market economy develops, we also are trying our best to improve the legal framework. As a result of the need to improve the legal system, the role of the National Assembly has changed significantly. The National Assembly on the one hand is the legislation-making body, on the other hand, they also play a role as the oversight body. For the National Assembly elections, democracy and freedoms have been enhanced substantially.

In the past, the conditions were different. I'd like to emphasize that freedom and democracy are the ultimate goal of our revolutionary course and are stated in our constitution. If you meet the people in Vietnam, you can see that they are now more satisfied with improvements in their material and spiritual lives.

TWP: You mentioned human rights, which brings to mind something you once told President Clinton: that the concept of human rights in Vietnam is different than in the United States. What did you mean by that?

Khai: I think that the end goal of both countries is the same. Human rights is also mentioned in our President Ho Chi Minh's independence declaration. In that declaration, President Ho Chi Minh also quoted the 1776 Declaration of Independence of the United States: All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The two countries, the U.S. and Vietnam, have different historical backgrounds. Our political regimes are also different. The economic conditions are also different. I think the end goals concerning human rights are the same, but we may have different steps toward the end goals. In Vietnam, the people have the highest power to determine the destiny of their country.

The National Assembly is the representative institution for that highest power of the people. And therefore, all the laws passed by the National Assembly need to be based on the opinion of the people. The government also issued a decree on grass-roots democracy. All the decisions of the local government, commune or village, require the participation of the people.

Some people may argue that Vietnam does not have freedom and democracy and only has a one-party system. But you know, our ultimate goal is to maintain political stability and serve the interest of the people. During the last 70 years, the party has devoted all efforts to bring about the benefit for the people, which has been recognized by the entire population of the country. In Vietnam, there is no need for more than one party because the Vietnamese people still have strong confidence in the party. However, we understand that it is the party's goal to bring about benefits for the people or else it will not be recognized by the people.

TWP: Recently, Vietnam released several prisoners of conscience and issued an ordinance that allows house-based churches to open, and you in March issued a special instruction banning forced renunciations of faith. The United States has welcomed these steps but says there needs to be more follow through. What further reforms are you planning in this area? Will you have any progress to report when you go to Washington?

Khai: The history of Vietnam for thousands of years has shown that there has never been a religious conflict in this nation. We have six major religions with about 20 million followers. We also have pursued the policy of national unity, including unity among religions. It is the religions themselves that have made great contributions to national liberation and national reconstruction. And religious people are equal with all other people. We do not have any discrimination between religious and non-religious people. We do not agree with arguments from the outside that there are prisoners of conscience in Vietnam. We do not have any prisoners of conscience in Vietnam. For those who break the law, they will be handled in accordance with very strict legal proceedings. In Vietnam, we have penal and civil codes. Those who break the law will be handled in accordance with the law.

As prime minister, I myself have instructed the competent agencies to have strict punishments for those who violate the law. But we also need to make efforts to avoid any wrong decisions.

For convicted persons, every year, we also have an amnesty for those who have followed the prison regulations and changed their behavior. We also have a system to commute death penalty to life in prison.

The state also has adopted an ordinance on religions. The government also issued a decree on religions and the prime minister has issued the special instruction and these laws and legal documents are to ensure that all people have the right to practice their religious activities. Especially for Protestants, according to the directive, the organizations and the system of churches will be recognized if they meet all the criteria and conditions, including the ordainment and appointment of priests. So once again, let me reiterate that in Vietnam, in our history, there has been no religious conflict and we have no prejudice against any religious group.

We are about to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi, founded by King Ly, was also a Buddhist. From a monk, he became a king. So there's no discrimination between religious and non-religious in Vietnam.

TWP: There are at least 1.5 million overseas Vietnamese in the United States. Many have returned to Vietnam to visit or do business. Yet some, especially among the older generation, harbor a lingering distrust. Some are planning demonstrations demanding freedom and democracy and an end to corruption. What would you say to the community of overseas Vietnamese about the climate of economic opportunity, and social and political freedoms in Vietnam today?

Khai: I think the Vietnamese community in the world in general and in the U.S. in particular, they all see clearly the economic achievements in Vietnam in the last 10 years. I think in their eyes now Vietnam is a peaceful stable safe and reformed country. Vietnam is also in the process of rapid development in the region and in the world. Vietnam would like to be a friend and a partner of all countries in the world. For all those who have come to Vietnam, whether high level leaders or tourists, they have all recognized these achievements.

There is a small group who due to their past still have an outdated and prejudiced view of Vietnam, we would like you through your newspaper to convey a message to the Vietnamese community in the United States, for our compatriots living overseas, that they are an integral part of our nation and a very important resource for our country. It is our consistent policy to further strengthen national unity, to achieve the goal of an independent nation, which is to be a democratic and civilized society. That is the [inaudible] we would like to uphold without any discrimination to the past, to the political opinions.

For those who could understand and recognize this policy, they will have a worthy position in Vietnam. I would like also to emphasize again that Vietnam has a very different condition from other countries who have undergone 30 years of war. From that background you might see that some stood on that side, some on the other side, even in one family. A lot of suffering has been put on the Vietnamese people. That's why we would like to put behind us the past and look forward to the future.

You may say that during the war, Vietnam and the United States were opponents. Now that 30 years has elapsed since the end of the war, it is our policy to put aside the past and look forward to the future and a better relationship of the two countries. That is in the best interests of our nation.

TWP: In the lead-up to next year's 10th party congress, a debate is occurring within the political leadership about the pace and scope of reforms. Analysts put you in the modernizers' camp, which believes turning globalization to Vietnam's advantage. How important is the outcome of your trip to strengthening the reformers' position? How confident are you that the modernizers will prevail?

Khai: Important documents are now being prepared for the 10th party congress. It is now being discussed within the Politburo today and in the next three days. Review is being made about the past 10 years of reform. The most important thing is that we will continue with the reform process because that would be the most important factor in the great success of the last 10 years. With the reform, we will be able to bring into full play the strength of the entire nation, to maximize internal resources while making best use of external resources.

We need to further improve the market institutions that have been put in place in the last 10 years. I am sure in the next period we will see the strongest scope of reforms to achieve national industrialization and modernization.

And we will also continue to pursue the foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralization of our external relations and Vietnam will be the friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community.

Thanks to the great successes in our foreign policy, Vietnam's position has been enhanced in the foreign arena. With the achievements in domestic policy and in foreign policy, it is the best timing for our visit to the states.

TWP: Does this trip have the potential to give momentum to your reforms?

Khai: The reform policy was launched quite a long time ago and we will continue with reforms. My visit to the United States is to promote the relationship between the two countries to a higher plane. We would like to build a framework of a friendly, constructive and long-term partnership between the two countries. Based on the new situation, we will also develop the new reform policy to be suitable to the new situation. I don't think that the visit will bring added momentum to the in-country reform. But in order to meet the interests of the country and our own need, we are required to accelerate reform. The visit to the United States this time is also a way to implement our foreign policy. We would like to further enhance the relationship.

TWP: Vietnam is making an effort to join the international community. How do you see your relationship with the United States vis-à-vis China, another great power in the region? How are you balancing the two relationships?

Khai: Vietnam is expanding its relationship with the United States. China is a big neighbor of Vietnam. During the last 20 years their reforms have also been very successful. We also would like to study the successful lessons of China's reforms and openness policy. With their successes, China has become a major power in economics, science and technology and is ensuring that their defense and military power will be developed very strongly in the future. Therefore, we also would like to develop good neighborliness and strong partnership with the two countries. However, I would like to reaffirm to you that Vietnam will continue with the foreign policy of independence and sovereignty. We do not belong to any bloc. We do not have any ally. But we need to have fair play with all countries. We need to have good partnerships with all countries in the world. As you know, Vietnam has played an increasingly active role in ASEAN. We will also participate actively in the coming East Asia summit. This is an open-ended mechanism. We'd like to see Australia, New Zealand and India be members of the East Asia summit. We also have a good relationship with Japan, the European Union and also would like to have good relations with the United States and India. We also would like to maintain good relations with Russia and other traditional friends. Last year, I also made a visit to Africa. This is our foreign policy, to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the world.

TWP: Re avian influence, what tangible steps is the government taking to ensure that Vietnam is providing details of cases and virus samples from birds and human beings to international health experts, like the WHO?

Khai: With the ebb and flow of the outbreak of avian influenza in Vietnam, the prime minister and deputy prime minister are involved in the fight against the disease. We have set the target that within two months, the disease must be contained within Vietnam. After the disease has been quarantined and contained, we also have to make . . . efforts to prevent the reoccurrence of the disease. . . . Due to the limited capacity and conditions in scientific research facilities, therefore, we are working closely with the international community, WHO, FAO and even the United States, Japan and Australia. A sample has been provided for international experts and foreign countries to carry out joint research. We hope that with the cooperation from other countries that have more advanced health sector, we will be able to develop an effective vaccine to contain the virus in the future.

TWP: Will you announce any new specific steps to open up more churches?

Khai: That is their freedom. If the criteria and conditions are met, they may apply for the opening of churches. You may see more churches, pagodas, chapels in Vietnam now. Since I was a boy to now, I haven't seen the number of churches and pagodas grow so quickly as now. They are beautiful churches and pagodas.

TWP: You'll be meeting with Kofi Annan. Will you be making any gestures toward the United Nations, perhaps through UN Peacekeeping?

Khai: Yes, in the future, we will try to fulfill our obligations.

TWP: Including UN peacekeeping?

Khai: Depending on our conditions, Vietnam's still a poor economy. We are now also trying to train some people, including military personnel so that we may be able to participate in peacekeeping. We might have some expertise in landmine clearing, medical staff. You know our condition. Vietnam is still a poor country.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/16/AR2005061601756.html