Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung.

VietNamNet Bridge - Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung has urged the United States to consider the democracy and human rights issues in Vietnam in a comprehensive manner and in their historical context so as to avoid making negative impacts on the developing relations between the two countries.

Dung made the remark at a regular briefing on April 5 in reply to foreign correspondents' questions on Vietnam's reaction to U.S. Ambassador Michael Marine's article about some elements who were handled by Vietnamese authorised agencies recently.

Dung said: "The relationship between Vietnam and the US has seen important progresses towards building a constructive partnership, friendship and multifaceted cooperation based on equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit. These positive progresses have brought practical benefits to the two countries' people.

"Vietnam is always willing to hold dialogue with the US about issues of common concern. The two countries, sharing common benefits in developing bilateral cooperation to a wide, stable and effective level, should not let differences affect bilateral relations in various fields."

The spokesman added that the two sides had discussed frankly their differences, including human rights and religious issues.

Dung reiterated that the Vietnamese State always respects freedom and democracy. "Each citizen has the right to speak out his/her opinions for the country's development. Nobody in Vietnam has been arrested for reasons relating to political views or religion, and only those who violate laws are handled in accordance with laws," he stressed.

Dung said some elements have recently taken advantage of Vietnam's policies and regulations on freedom and democracy to violate laws and undermine the country's security, order and stability. "Like other countries, within the framework of a law-governed state, all violations must be dealt with in accordance with the law. This is a normal action in line with Vietnamese as well as international laws."

He said the trial of Nguyen Van Ly and several other elements is aimed at "ensuring the strictness and fairness of the law-governed state, promoting democracy, protecting human rights and enforcing the Vietnamese laws."

In conclusion, Dung said: "Vietnam asks the United States to consider human rights issues in Vietnam in a comprehensive manner based on its historical background, with respect for the country's economic, cultural and social characteristics and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, so as not let the issues affect the current smooth development of the two countries' relations."

(Source: VNA)