Big changes in Vietnam-US relations

06:29' 26/06/2007 (GMT+7)

John McAuliff, Executive Director of the Fund for Reconciliation and Development VietNamNet Bridge – John McAuliff, Executive Director of the US’ Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD), has kept an eye on Vietnam for many decades. CNN invited him to comment on the US visit by Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet on June 23. This is a loose translation of the interview with John McAuliff in Tuoi Tre Newspaper. What changes do you see in the relationship between Vietnam and the US? We can see big changes in the relationship between the two countries, not only in economics but in other fields. For example, both sides want stability in the region. Extreme Islam is a big problem in Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia at present. These are big countries in ASEAN and they are facing security instability while Vietnam is the only one with a big city in the region that doesn’t have this problem. In the US’ point of view on stability in this region, Vietnam – in many aspects – is the most reliable place in term of security in the next 30-40 years. In addition, Vietnam has a very significant geopolitical position in the region in the eyes of many big countries. How do you compare President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to previous visits to the US by other leaders of Vietnam? This visit was prepared better and more precisely in many issues. The four-page insert on Vietnam in The Wall Street Journal can be seen as a success and a very good preparation. There was a big change when the Vietnamese President had meetings with many leaders of the US House of Representatives and Senate. President Nguyen Minh Triet was willing to answer the questions of journalists. He also had many more activities with the public, in which people were allowed to come in and out freely and to raise their opinions and questions. I attended some events and I saw that the President handled those events very well. It can’t be said that the visit is 100% successful but it is clear that he is the representative of a new generation of leaders, who are familiar with and better understand the way of thinking and lifestyle of American people. Do you think that some sensitive issues on which the two sides still have differences such as religion, human rights and some US congressmen often raising those issues could affect bilateral relations? I don’t think so. There are many other things that are more important in the relations between the two countries at present, for example economic, cultural, political interests. In addition, the community of around two million Vietnamese in the US also wants better ties with Vietnam and these are important things to help overcome hindrances in the bilateral ties. President Nguyen Minh Triet and President George Bush at the White House (photo: AP) Does the Vietnam War still have influences on the relations between the two countries? I think it influences American people rather than Vietnamese people. Vietnam has the tradition of building peaceful and friendly ties with countries that it defeated while struggling against invasion. What is the most positive sign in the visit by President Nguyen Minh Triet? Is it the signing of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA)? I think it is the meeting at the White House between the two Presidents. The visit by President Bush to Vietnam to meet President Nguyen Minh Triet in November 2006 was also as important as the visit by President Triet this time. This is the recognition at the highest level that the relationship between the two countries has completely normalised. The re-affirmation of the two leaders about economic, education, cultural ties is the foundation for the two sides to further develop bilateral relations. The signing of the TIFA is a long-term basis for future bilateral economic cooperation. The US President mentioned the Agent Orange issue. Though the US Congress is the agency that ratifies the funding, President Bush’s direct confirmation of this issue to the press is a confirmation in principle. It is a small amount of money but it is a very important sign. How do you feel about President Nguyen Minh Triet? I have never had a personal meeting with President Nguyen Minh Triet but through what I saw at meetings held by AIG and Asia Society, I see that President Triet has performed his role very well. He has personal attractiveness, made contact with audiences and his speeches are full of information. He knows how to keep balance between Vietnam’s actual difficulties and potentials. That’s a very intelligent way. For very sensitive issues like human rights he also has outspoken and open answers. Even when there was an extremist at the event held by Asia Society, President Nguyen Minh Triet still kept his calm and handled the case very well. (Source: Viet Nam Net)