THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA ADDED THEIR VOICE TOGETHER WITH MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR THE EXECUTION OF THIS EVIL CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY

On behalf of the people and government of Venezuela, especially the Commander and President Hugo Chavez, I would like to extend to all of you the greetings of friendship and solidarity, and hope that the reports, discussions and conclusions of the conference will unequivocally contribute to the attainment of justice for the victims in Vietnam, who were poisoned by the herbicides containing dioxin TCDD, known as Agent Orange, whose devastating effects can be considered real crimes against humanity, and in consequence they never can be prescribed.

50 years have gone by the systematic and ruthless cruelty against the people and nature of Vietnam. According to Hatfield Consultants Ltd. Company of Canada, from 1962 to 1971 "as a part of Operation Ranch Hand, the u.s. forces conducted more than 6,500 missions, sprayed 72 million liters of herbicides over more than 1, 5 million ha (about 10 percent of South Vietnam.) u.s.

aircraft and helicopters were flying below 500 feet above the ground and spraying about 250 gallons of herbicide per one or two hectares of vegetation. Eighty percent of chemicals sprayed remained on the trees, while the rest stayed at a lower level or fell down to the ground. Although the majority (86 percent) of the above tasks was performed from the aircraft, they also deployed trucks, boats and even backpacks to spray this chemical."

The war of liberation and the unification of Vietnam finally ended 36 years ago. But as researcher Inigo Saenz de Ugarte says, "Decades after the end of the war in Vietnam, it continues to kill people, leaves behind deformities and cause terrible deformities in newborns." So, we can say that the terror that came across the sea still continues to harm the noble people of Vietnam, and their beautiful, fertile and martyred land."

Since its establishment, the Embassy of Venezuela in Hanoi that had regular contact with the "Thanh Xuan Peace Village," an institution with great care, much love and dedication extended to the noble duty of providing rehabilitation to children and a dolescents who are victims of Agent Orange.

In addition, the Embassy has developed a successful relationship and cooperation with the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange - VAVA - an organization that deserves our recognition for its continued dedication to the struggle for justice of victims of dioxin and recently received the Second Class Labor Order in recognition of its achievements in the tasks of providing information and care, advocacy and support for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.

The people of Venezuela has maintained their solidarity with thousands of brothers in Vietnam, who are suffering the ravages of Agent Orange and following the words of Mr. Nguyen Due Kien, who noted that "the pain of the victims of Agent Orange is shared by whole nation." Similarly, we celebrate the achievements of Vietnam in reducing its pain, as what President Nguyen Minh Triet said on 7th August, 2011, when he visited the Tu Du Hospital, where he really felt "very proud of the self-esteem of young victims of dioxin - who are demonstrating high motivation in overcoming health problems, so that good results in school and social integration may be achieved."

Last but not least, the people of Venezuela added their voice together with millions of other people who are demanding justice for the execution of this evil chapter in the history. That is the Justice to punish the two u.s. companies which produced lethal toxins, and at one time even deceived their own government about the seriousness of the effects of herbicides and impunity are still continuing to spread their harmful products around the world. Justice for relief, even materially, the plight of the victims.