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Re: US Leads Historic Talks

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: October 24, 2003

"U.S. holds historic multilateral talks on Vietnam War MIAs

Associated Press
Oct. 24, 2003 07:15 AM

BANGKOK, Thailand - The United States, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia on Friday concluded their first-ever joint talks on the search for Americans missing from the Vietnam War.

Since the end of the war in 1975, the United States has accounted for more than 700 Americans missing from the fighting, which also took place in Laos and Cambodia. More than 1,800 others are still unaccounted for.

Washington has been dealing individually with the three Asian countries in searching for the MIAs. Those talks would continue, but joint four-nation meetings will also be held yearly, adding urgency to the matter, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Jerry D. Jennings told reporters at the conclusion of the two-day talks in the Thai capital of Bangkok.

He said the joint meetings would especially help in searches for remains in border areas.

"A lot of the missing are around the border areas of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The more senior level you're negotiating, discussing the issues, the quicker you're able to resolve your search and provide answers to your questions," said Jennings, who is in charge of POW/Missing Personnel Affairs.

Each year, more than 700 U.S. specialists take part in MIA searches in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, conducting archival research and field excavations.
Jennings said the MIA issue has been "central" to Washington's relationship with the three Southeast Asian nations for a long time.

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