Va va works with the US Institute of Peace

Lieutenant General Nguyen Huu Chinh, President of VAVA, together with its vice presidents and heads Foreign Relations Departments received and worked with the delegation.

At the working session, President Chinh informed the delegation about the situation of generations of Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange; about the structure, organization, and tasks of VAVA. He expressed, in recent times, VAVA has welcomed many international delegations. Recently, a delegation of the Communist Party of the United States came to visit VAVA and learn about the victims of Agent Orange. USIP's visit and working session this time further confirmed the cooperative relationship between VAVA and international organizations, which is of practical significance. The purpose of these visits and working sessions is not to recall the past, but to exchange and discuss ways of cooperation to help the victims.

Mr. Andrew said that USIP is a public institute established by the US Congress and has cooperative relationships with governments and civil society of countries for training, analyzing and researching policies in the field of conflict prevention and resolve and peace building. USIP's project aims to promote reconciliation and maintain US support in overcoming war consequences in Vietnam in 3 forms: Holding in-person and online seminars with famous speakers from the United States and Vietnam to raise public awareness about the journey toward reconciliation and the importance of overcoming the consequences of war; Facilitating dialogue focusing on specific issues or topics, such as remediating Agent Orange or exchanges between veterans; Supporting videos, social networks, blogs and reports on topics related to war consequences and bilateral cooperation.

Both sides also heard US veterans talking about their exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin during the war and the current situation of US veterans after the war. Although some victims directly exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin during the war in Vietnam have no obvious medical conditions, their children have shown signs of sequelae and suffer from short lifespan. At the meeting, VAVA's leaders also answered many questions from US veterans about the consequences that Agent Orange/dioxin caused to the environment and people in Vietnam.

At the meeting, through USIP, President Chinh recommended that the US government take more responsibility in overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam, including Agent Orange; USIP and members of the delegation put pressure on the United States Congress to approve bills on supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange. VAVA also proposes to cooperate with USIP's Southeast Asia Program in researching, investigating, surveying, and making victim profiles to propose specific support and assistance for the victims; and that USIP continue to invite VAVA delegates to forums on Agent Orange and overcoming the consequences of war.

Dinh Trong