[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                  KEEP UP THE EMBARGO AGAINST VIETNAM

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I wanted to speak briefly today about my 
reasons for voting as I did last week on the matter of our trade 
embargo against Vietnam. As you know, this subject arose during the 
Senate's debate on S. 1281, the State Department authorization bill for 
fiscal years 1994 and 1995.
  During the debate on the embargo, I voted for an amendment offered by 
Senator Smith of New Hampshire and against the amendments offered by 
Senator Kerry of Massachusetts and Senator McCain of Arizona. I did 
this because of the strength of my belief, that Vietnam has an 
obligation to make a full accounting of all American MIA's and POW's. 
The families and friends of missing service personnel deserve nothing 
less.
  The fate of our POW's and MIA's in Vietnam has been a longstanding 
concern of mine. Back in 1985 in the House, I introduced a bill 
establishing a commission to report on the status of MIA's and POW's.
  I would like to open new trade opportunities for United States 
products in Vietnam, as I would like to do throughout the world. And I 
respect the views of many of my colleagues who believe it is time to 
lift the embargo.
  However, I mainly view the question of the embargo as a matter of 
human dignity rather than of commerce. In my judgment, before we focus 
on new trade opportunities, we must settle the outstanding issue of 
accounting for our soldiers. To end the embargo now would throw away 
our best leverage, our best means to pry loose from Vietnam information 
about POW/MIA cases--information the Government of Vietnam has an 
obligation to provide.
  That is why I opposed the Kerry and McCain amendments, both of which 
urged the President to lift the embargo against Vietnam. I voted 
instead for the Smith amendment, which enabled the President to lift 
the embargo only if he certified to Congress that:
  First, Vietnam had fully resolved those POW/MIA cases where it could 
be reasonably expected to have further information;
  Second, Vietnam had addressed questions related to documents found 
last year in Russian archives; and
  Third, the United States had fully investigated intelligence 
information that our Government now possesses about POW/MIA matters.
  I should also note that, once the President certifies that the Smith 
conditions are met, he could lift the embargo within 30 days.
  To me, these conditions are prerequisites to lifting the embargo 
against Vietnam. I will continue to press Vietnam to meet these 
criteria for trading with us.

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