News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Tying Up Loose Ends

Date: November 16, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2000
Washington, DC
Contact: Ann Mills Griffiths
202-223-6846
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POW/MIA FAMILIES DECLINES PARTICIPATION IN PRESIDENT'S DELEGATION TO VIETNAM

The National League of POW/MIA Families has declined the Administration's invitation to participate in President Clinton's upcoming trip to Vietnam. The League has participated in numerous official delegations, as well as several League-only trips, to Vietnam beginning in 1982 and continuing through 1999. Our experience shows that concrete results are unlikely in large delegations or where priorities are not clear.

After learning that this will be a massive official delegation, including over 30 private corporations, League Chairman of the Board Jo Anne Shirley stated, "With a delegation of this size and composition, no serious dialogue on the issue would be expected unless in private. Since the Clinton Administration has repeatedly stated that this issue is their highest priority with Vietnam, we provided serious input to the White House on our concerns and urged they be raised privately with Vietnam's leaders."

The League strongly supported Secretary of Defense Cohen's visit last March and hopes that President Clinton will follow-up the Secretary's serious message by urging Vietnam to increase needed unilateral efforts.

The League strongly rejects statements by administration officials that the President's trip will in some way put the Vietnam War behind us. Given their official statements that reflect an expectation of reparations in one form or another, even the Vietnamese do not view it that way. We see this visit as the last step of the Clinton Administration to normalize economic and political relations with Vietnam in a broad sense and believe that addressing problems realistically will fulfill mutual expectations. We urge that the visit be handled responsibly to enable the incoming administration to concentrate on resolving all aspects of the POW/MIA issue.