Viet Nam Human Rights
"Vietnam-US: New Journey"
31/1/16
US Ambassador: “We should be honest with the past”. This is the statement
of the US Ambassador to Vietnam, Ted
Osius, when he visited the Hien Luong birdge that was the divider between two
half of the country.
The ambassador said that Quang Tri province is an important place of Vietnam and the US. In recent time, the US had promoted
the relationship with the province, healing the pain of the war by removing the
unexploded ordnance here. The ambassador believes that, by 2020, Quang Tri
would be not affected by the mine. This is a model of cooperation between two
government of Vietnam and
the US.
“Today, at the historic Hien Luong
Bridge in Quang Tri
province, I stood where I was in 1996 after President Clinton normalized
relations and set in motion "a time to heal and a time to build." At
that time, I was on an even longer bike ride...from Hanoi
to Ho Chi Minh City.
While there, I met an older woman who explained to me in Vietnamese that what
appeared to be ponds dotting the landscape where actually what remained of the
bombs that had been dropped...including on her village. Then, she added using
the familial terms that make Vietnamese such an intimate language "Hom
nay, Chúng ta là anh chị em." (Today, we all are brothers and sisters).
When we are honest about the past, we can turn this symbolic bridge into the
the path that leads to a better future together.”
“The
conversation demonstrated two important things. First, Vietnamese people
remember the past, but want a better future. Second, they want a new
relationship that is better for American to be their friends.”
The ambassador also
reaffirmed that: “In my opinion, if we want a good future, we should be honest
with the past. The US
has to commit its crime. And I’m here today with a lot of feelings and honest
with the past. I think we should build a better future for us and next
generations.”
“In my cycling tour, I had
met many Vietnamese who had made me remembered to protect the environment,
people who have worked to bring a better education for young Vietnamese people.
Considering the rising cooperation and relationship, I realize that is right.
Today, we are brothers and sister. I really want in the next 20 years, the
relationship between Vietnam
an the US
will achieve more than things that we expected,” the ambassador shared his
thought.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted
Osius on January 30 arrived in the central province
of Thua Thien - Hue
concluding an 8-day cycle tour that departed from Hanoi to promote educational exchange and environment
protection awareness.
The 840km bicycle trip “US –
Vietnam:
A New Journey” aimed to underscore the importance of economic growth, health
care and cultural heritages, educational exchange and environmental protection
to mark a new period of bilateral ties.
The ambassador said he and his entourage were warmly welcomed by very hospitable residents.
The ambassador said he and his entourage were warmly welcomed by very hospitable residents.
Since departing Hanoi on
January 24, he has stopped by Cuc Phuong national park in Ninh Binh, Lam Kinh
temple in Thanh Hoa, an orphaned children’s centre in Ha Tinh, Phong Nha caves
in Quang Binh and Hien Luong bridge in Quang Tri./.
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