TEXT: 3/12 PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION STATEMENT IN HANOI
(Fullest possible accounting for MIAs still chief goal)

Hanoi -- The fullest possible accounting for Americans lost as a result of the war in Southeast Asia remains the primary goal of U.S. Presidential Delegations visiting Vietnam, according to Hershel Gober, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The most recent delegation, the first since President Clinton normalized relations with Vietnam in July 1995, released the following statement March 12 in Hanoi:

(begin official text)

STATEMENT BY HERSHEL GOBER
DEPUTY SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

HANOI MARCH 12, 1996

This Presidential Delegation's visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the first since the President normalized relations in July 1995. This delegation, and others from the Department of Defense and the Department of State, have one clear goal in mind: to achieve the fullest possible accounting for Americans lost as a result of the war in Southeast Asia.

During meetings with representatives of the government of Vietnam, the delegation emphasized that the fullest possible accounting is a high national priority in our bilateral relationship. We continue to seek progress in the tour areas earlier identified by President Clinton:

-- Recovery and repatriation of American remains;

-- Resolution of discrepancy cases and live sighting reports;

-- Trilateral operations in Laos;

-- Provision of all available POW/MIA-related documents.

The government of Vietnam has demonstrated and sustained its willingness to cooperate in joint recovery operations. The continuance of their amnesty program has also been an important contribution. The delegation acknowledged the assistance of the Vietnamese government in the most recent joint field activity in which the turnover of remains held by individuals was twice expedited.

The delegation emphasized the priority by family and veterans' organizations in confirming the fates and accounting for individuals on the priority last known alive discrepancy case list. We also called for the repatriation of remains of those on the special remains list or information explaining why their remains are no longer recoverable. The recently completed Comprehensive Review has brought a more focused, ongoing analytical process, and gives both sides a positive way to bring individual cases to resolution.

We hope to see further exchanges of information and documents. While we have no evidence that the Vietnamese government is withholding any information, we urged its leaders to continue efforts to uncover any new information that would aid in the fullest possible accounting of our POW/MIAs.

Both governments has exchanged information based on the Comprehensive Review over the past several months, and we are pleased that the government of Vietnam has already started work on cases which call for unilateral action. We were very pleased to receive just this morning documents from Vice Foreign Minister Le Mai. This response to our request for greater emphasis on unilateral actions by the Vietnamese government is most appreciated. We will take these documents back to Washington for analysis.

We place a very high priority on pursuing any live sighting reports. Quick action on such reports is essential to address humanitarian concerns.

The delegation will continue its work here through discussions with the Vietnam Veterans Organization and with other government officials. In the days following, meetings are scheduled in Vientiane, Laos and Phnom Penh, as well as a visit to two joint field operations in Laos.

(end official text)

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