Vietnam offers olive branch

Press, 15 July 1976, Page 6

Vietnam offers olive branch

PA-Reuter Singapore Vietnam yesterday offered friendship to its nonaligned neighbours in South-East Asia in return for non-interference in each other’s affairs.

“In our view, the path taken bv each country should be decided by the people in that country",” the Deputy Foreign Minister. Mr Phan Hien. told a press conference.

Mr Hien, touring the region as part of a diplomatic idrive by Hanoi to improve [relations after the unification |of Vietnam, said that if counI tries genuinely espoused the i principles of independence, I peace, and neutrality, this 1 could lead to friendship, j “Independence, peace, and Ineutrality” has become a keyI note phrase during Mr Hein’s |tour, and yesterday it apipeared as one of the crucial (conditions in the agreement between the Philippines and Vietnam to establish diplojmatic relations.

It differs only slightly from the basic call by the nonaligned Association of SouthEast Asian Nations for “a zone of peace, freedom and neutrality” in the region. Mr Hien said that other principles on which Vietnam had established ties with the Philippines also applied to other countries. These included non-aggression, and settlement of disputes through negotiations.

Asked if Hanoi would rule out assistance to Communist guerrilla movements in other countries, Mr Hien replied: “We have always stated that relationships should be based on equality, independence and sovereignty of territory, and non-interference of others’ affairs.”

The Singapore Foreign Minister (Mr Sinnathaby Rajaratnam) said that A.S.E.A.N. wants good relations with Indo-China, “provided our neighbours do not feel any compulsion to convert us to their faith.”

Mr Hien has already been promised aid to restore Vietnam’s battered economv in the two A.S.E.A.N. countries he has so far visited. Malaysia and the Philippines. After Singapore, where he will also have trade talks, Mr Hien will go on to another A.S.E.A.N. member, Indonesia.

The only A.S.E.A.N. country he will not visit is Thailand, but a Thai delegation is due in Hanoi next month to discuss normalising ties.

Cycling.—Michel Pollentier of Belgium won the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France cycle race in a late spurt as his compatriot, Lucien van Impe, the overaU race leader, free-wheeled his way from Pau after his exertions in the Pyrenees.

Boxing.—Alfonso Zamora of Mexico retained his World Boxing Association bantam-weight title in Mexico when he knocked out Panamanian challenger Gilberto Hlueca.