[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE DEATH OF LE MAI, VICE FOREIGN MINISTER OF VIETNAM

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I wish to note with regret the sudden death 
last week of Le Mai, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam. Le Mai 
hosted me for dinner just 3 weeks ago when I was in Hanoi. I found him 
to be warm, intelligent, and above all eager to continue the process of 
improving relations with the United States.
  Mai's death comes at a particularly difficult time in Vietnamese 
politics. The Communist Party is scheduled to hold a crucial party 
congress at the end of this month, where several important decisions 
regarding the near future of the country will be made. Mai would have 
been a strong force pushing Vietnam toward a more open economic system. 
He told me in Hanoi that Vietnam's biggest mistake so far was imposing 
a demand economy. He argued that the laws of capitalism ``just are'' 
and that Vietnam has developed much since economic reforms were started 
in the late 1980's. He also would have been a strong force pushing his 
government toward more friendly relations with the West. He recognized 
that his country needed political, as well as economic reforms and said 
he wanted closer relations with the United States in part to help his 
fellow countrymen better understand our system.
  Le Mai was one of the principle architects of the normalization 
process between the United States and Vietnam and his dedication to 
moving that relationship further forward was evident in our 
discussions. He stressed the need for the United States to have an 
active presence in Southeast Asia, economically, politically and even 
militarily. He understood the lingering problems that many in both 
countries have with the bilateral relationship because of the war, but 
argued that it was important for governments to try to forge policies 
to get past people's emotions. He recognized, too, the responsibility 
that he and other leaders in both countries had in creating those 
policies, telling me that ``our generation fought the war, so it is our 
duty to solve the problems'' that resulted from it.
  His death is a loss to his country and to the ongoing process of 
improving relations between our two countries.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NUNN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the quorum call 
be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________