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STATEMENT OF THE VIETNAM ASSOCIATION FOR VICTIMS OF AGENT ORANGE/DIOXIN ON THE PLAN TO RESOLVE THE AGENT ORANGE LEGACY IN VIETNAM

Hanoi, June 17, 2010

On June 16, 2010 in Hanoi, members of the US–Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange announced their “Action Plan” to resolve the Agent Orange problem in Vietnam.  On this meaningful occasion for the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) formally states the following.

On behalf of all victims of Agent Orange, VAVA sincerely thanks all the people who, with strong dedication and great effort, developed this “Action Plan” with goals and programs to be funded in the amount of $300 million US dollars over a period of 10 years.

As an organization representing all the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, VAVA has been concerned for many years with mobilizing and coordinating support for the victims in whatever ways possible.  We believe that:

1/ This is an action plan of individuals -- citizens of Vietnam and the U.S.  They may   perceive reality from different angles, arising from their particular areas of expertise and professional fields, but they share the aspiration to completely resolve the Agent Orange issue, not only for humanitarian reasons, but also in the hope of creating conditions for our two peoples to advance relations on a higher level. Coming together, they called themselves the US–Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange. After spending time to study the situation and discuss the issues, they felt a need for an action plan to build the foundations and goals for the next efforts.

2/ It is clear that, in the next 10 years, Vietnam will spend billions of dollars addressing the Agent Orange problem. Much of this amount will be spent on monthly assistance payments to those most seriously affected and for meeting urgent needs of  victims. While the action plan and proposed budget of $300 million US dollars is absolutely modest compared to the actual scope of what is needed to address the suffering of the people and the damage to the environment caused by Agent Orange, the effort is well appreciated and highly valued in this time when Vietnam is still poor and the needs of victims are immense.

3/ Looking back at the challenging years of the past, in perception as well as regarding real solutions to alleviate the Agent Orange tragedy, a 10-year action plan with a price tag of $300 million US dollars represents the efforts of individuals in the Dialogue Group but also the tireless efforts of individuals and organizations in Vietnam, the U.S., and in many countries, and many international forums, especially those of the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, contributing to the building of the foundation and conditions for this type of plan to come into being, including the building and developing of friendly relations between the US and Vietnam.

 4/ The cooperation in completing this plan of action demonstrates that the government and people of the two countries can cooperate and together resolve the remaining post-war problems.  We hope that this plan, together with action plans of other individuals and people’s organizations, will lay a firm and positive foundation for the two governments to initiate stronger cooperation to resolve the Agent Orange and other remaining post-war issues.

5/ The “Action Plan” is a program of ideas and goals. It does not detail the specific action and implementation methods. It is important that when and if the “Action Plan” is implemented, the Vietnamese government, social organizations and individuals in Vietnam and abroad will also have their own programs.  In order to avoid duplication and stepping on each others toes, we hope that this “Action Plan” will be promptly followed by a detailed plan for implementation for each of its projects, to help create common understanding for coordination of efforts.  The close coordination between mass organizations and between the two governments not only will improve the effectiveness of each of the projects, but also contribute greatly to a closer, more cooperative, and greater understanding between our two peoples.  As an organization working closely day by day, minute by minute with victims of Agent Orange, with a deep understanding of their physical and mental needs, we are ready to coordinate or to participate in this project or any other project

6/ We hope that all projects and their implementation will be faithful to the title of this Announcement “ADDRESSING THE LEGACY OF AGENT ORANGE IN VIETNAM.”  However, we would like to note that after years of bearing the pain of diseases on their bodies, many victims of Agent Orange, especially those who have aged and those suffering severe conditions, are now living in much more extreme poverty due to their inability to work and the need for expensive daily medical treatment.  For them, 10 years or even 5 years is an eternity-- too long to sustain.  Thus, while implementation of the “Action Plan” is being discussed, studied and planned, we hope that these victims’ needs for immediate relief and will be given the highest priority because they absolutely and urgently need care now.

7/ Finally, we hope that this “Action Plan” will be implemented not only by those who are best qualified, but also by those who are most dedicated and humanitarian and who possess the highest cooperative spirit. 

On behalf of 3 million victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam, we hope that this “Action Plan” becomes a reality, and we thank the individuals and organizations who contributed to this “Plan”. 
 
National Office of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin
Nguyen Van Rinh
President

Sidst opdateret 23-07-2010