[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1993, Book I)]
[July 2, 1993]
[Pages 990-991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on United States Policy Toward Vietnam
July 2, 1993

    It has always been my firm belief that America's highest priority in 
its approach toward Vietnam is to secure a full accounting on our 
prisoners of war and missing in action. Today I am announcing two new 
steps toward that goal. The first involves access by Vietnam to the 
International Monetary Fund. The second is my decision to send a new 
high-level delegation to Vietnam to press for further progress on 
unresolved POW/MIA issues. Together, these steps offer the best hope of 
providing America's POW/MIA families the answers and peace of mind they 
deserve.
    Over the past several months, I have given intense thought to how 
best to achieve the fullest possible accounting for our POW/MIA's and 
how to shape U.S. policy toward Vietnam to achieve that goal. I have met 
with veterans, with the families whose loved ones have not returned, and 
with Members of Congress who have a strong interest in this issue, 
including some who were held as prisoners of war.
    Last night I met with a group of impressive, dedicated 
representatives of veterans organizations and families who care deeply 
about our Government's efforts to achieve the fullest possible 
accounting of our missing. They share my own belief that our policy 
toward Vietnam must be driven not by commercial interests but by the 
overriding purpose of achieving further progress toward the fullest 
possible accounting of our POW/MIA's. Vietnam has long been a divisive 
issue for America. It remains so today. I know there is strong 
disagreement among all those with an interest in the POW/MIA issue on 
how best to further our mutual goal. Where there is no disagreement, 
however, is on the need to ensure that any decision taken is made in 
answer to the only relevant question: Will it help us discover the truth 
about our missing?
    One of the tragedies of this issue is that our own Government has 
often denied unnecessarily information about this issue to the American 
public. That is why I have instructed all U.S. Government POW/MIA 
related documents to be declassified by Veterans Day of this year, 
except for that tiny fraction that could still affect our national 
security or invade the privacy of the families. I have also been working 
to consolidate the POW/MIA agencies and resources to enhance the 
efficiency of these operations and access by the public. They have a 
right to know, and I intend to ensure they do.
    Since taking office, I have reviewed the progress made to date in 
resolving unanswered questions concerning the fate of American service 
personnel who did not return from Vietnam. I have insisted on the 
fullest possible accounting from the Vietnamese Government and pressed 
for further progress. As part of this effort, I dispatched Gen. John 
Vessey to Vietnam last April as my Special Emissary for POW/MIA Affairs 
to press for further progress. In addition, Members of Congress and 
representatives of

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veterans groups have traveled to Vietnam to press for that goal.
    In an effort to encourage further progress, it is appropriate at 
this time to recognize what the Vietnamese have done in our effort to 
account for our missing. Attached is a summary outlining that progress. 
Therefore, I have decided to end our opposition to the efforts of other 
nations to clear Vietnam's arrears in the IMF. I believe, as do former 
POW's John McCain and Douglas ``Pete'' Peterson and other veterans such 
as John Kerry and others in Congress, that such action will best serve 
the goal of achieving further progress toward the fullest possible 
acccounting.
    Any further steps in U.S.-Vietnamese relations will strictly depend 
on further progress by the Vietnamese on the POW/MIA issue. We should 
not be swayed from that course; America owes no less to the brave men 
and women who fought in Vietnam and to their loved ones. Progress to 
date is simply not sufficient to warrant any change in our trade embargo 
or any further steps toward normalization.
    In order to press for further progress and send a clear message to 
the Vietnamese Government, I will send to Hanoi a high-level delegation. 
The official delegation will include Deputy Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs Hershel Gober, Assistant Secretary of State Winston Lord, and 
Lt. Gen. Michael E. Ryan.
    I also have invited representatives of the three largest veterans 
groups to accompany the delegation. The American Legion, the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans have each agreed to 
send representatives with the delegation, and I am grateful for their 
willingness to participate in this important mission. In addition, I 
have invited the National League of Families of American Prisoners and 
Missing in Southeast Asia to send a representative. I have also asked 
our current Ambassador in Thailand, David Floyd Lambertson, who has 
extensive experience in Vietnam, to assist the delegation.
    The delegation will make clear to the Vietnamese that any further 
steps in relations between our two nations depend on tangible progress 
on the outstanding POW/MIA cases. We insist upon efforts by the 
Vietnamese in four key areas:

Remains: Concrete results from efforts on their part to recover remains 
and repatriate American remains.

Discrepancy cases: Continued resolution of 92 discrepancy cases, live 
sightings, and field activities.

Laos: Further assistance in implementing trilateral investigation with 
the Lao.

Archives: Accelerated efforts to provide all POW/MIA related documents 
that will help lead to genuine answers.

    The individuals on this delegation share my own determination to do 
all we can to find the truth surrounding those who did not come home. 
They will press hard for results.
    The delegation will also raise with the Vietnamese continuing human 
rights concerns and press for progress in the areas of basic freedoms, 
democracy, and economic reform.
    For many Americans, the Vietnam war left deep wounds that have yet 
to heal. One of the ways to help the process of healing is to help the 
friends and families of POW's and MIA's learn the truth. The steps I 
have outlined today will advance that goal.