NEWS RELEASES
CANADA PLEASED WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN NGUYEN CASE
June 1, 2000 (4:55 p.m. EDT) No. 130
CANADA PLEASED WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN NGUYEN CASE
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Minister for International Co-operation Maria
Minna and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan today welcomed the
assurance that the Government of Vietnam will release the mother of Nguyen Thi Hiep,
a Vietnamese-Canadian executed in Vietnam on April 25.
"Canadian officials have been working intensively with their Vietnamese counterparts in
order to resolve this and other outstanding issues of concern," said Minister Axworthy. "I
am encouraged that these negotiations have resulted in significant progress in meeting
Canada's efforts on behalf of the Nguyen family."
"I am pleased that the Vietnamese government has understood our grave concerns
regarding this matter," said Minister Minna. "It has been a difficult time for all concerned,
especially the Nguyen family."
Vietnamese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Binh informed Canadian embassy officials
today that a recommendation had been made to the President of Vietnam to grant
amnesty to Tran Thi Cam, the mother of Ms. Nguyen, as part of the general amnesty to
mark Vietnam's national holiday on September 2. The release of Mrs. Cam has been a
key issue in the resolution of this consular case.
The Vietnamese government has acceded to the Nguyen family's request that Ms.
Nguyen's remains be transferred outside the prison to a site of their choosing. The
family has decided to follow Vietnamese custom and not disturb the grave site for three
years following interment.
The Vietnamese government has also agreed to Canada's long-standing request to
send officers from the Toronto Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
to discuss closer co-operation with their Vietnamese counterparts on dealing with drug
trafficking. It is expected that the officers will travel to Vietnam before the end of June.
"Taken together, these assurances by the Vietnamese government will help ease the
recent difficulties in our bilateral relations," said Secretary of State Chan. "We
appreciate the efforts put into this case by all those involved in supporting the family
during this difficult time."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Donovan Hammersley
Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Robin Walsh
Office of the Minister for International Co-operation
(818) 953-3160
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
(819) 953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca(electronic version of the document)
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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