Vietnam responds to US 2014 religious freedom report
(VOV) - On October 15, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh gave the media Vietnam’s response to the US Department of State’s report on international religious freedom in 2014, including the situation in Vietnam.
“The Vietnamese government’s consistent policy is to respect and ensure citizens’ freedom of religion and non-religion. It’s clearly defined in the Constitution and laws and guaranteed and respected in reality,” Binh said.
“Vietnamese law strictly prohibits discrimination against religion and belief. The Vietnamese government has carried out a range of policies and measures to ensure people’s full enjoyment of their rights to religions and belief. It has made a rich and diverse religious life in Vietnam. It’s a pity that the US' 2014 report on International Religious Freedom, beside acknowledging Vietnam’s achievements in the field, has made some biased comments and cited inaccurate reports about Vietnam,” the official added.
In reply to reporters’ question about China’s illegal activities in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago, Hai Binh said, “Vietnam has repeatedly rejected the so-called Sansha city. Under any form or any purpose, the activities around Sansha city are groundless and illegal and cannot change the fact that Hoang Sa archipelago belongs to the country”.
Concerning Vietnam’s response to the Philippines’ Diplomat newspaper’s comment that China is virtually implementing the Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East Sea, the Vietnamese diplomat said all activities of the concerned parties in the East Sea must respect the sovereignty, sovereignty rights, and jurisdiction of relevant countries.
The activities must be in conformity with international law and in the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability and aviation and navigation safety and security in the East Sea, he said.
Regarding Vietnam’s response to the New York Times carrying the news that the US has exchanged with Asian countries on bringing ships to patrol within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands in the East Sea, Binh said the East Sea holds a crucial role in the Southeast Asian region as well as across the globe.
Countries inside and outside the region are equally responsible for maintaining and promoting peace, stability, along with aviation and navigation freedom, safety, and security in the East Sea.
The contributions must be based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the DOC aiming to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) as soon as possible, he noted.
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Concerning Vietnam’s response to the Philippines’ Diplomat newspaper’s comment that China is virtually implementing the Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East Sea, the Vietnamese diplomat said all activities of the concerned parties in the East Sea must respect the sovereignty, sovereignty rights, and jurisdiction of relevant countries.
The activities must be in conformity with international law and in the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability and aviation and navigation safety and security in the East Sea, he said.
Regarding Vietnam’s response to the New York Times carrying the news that the US has exchanged with Asian countries on bringing ships to patrol within 12 nautical miles of China’s artificial islands in the East Sea, Binh said the East Sea holds a crucial role in the Southeast Asian region as well as across the globe.
Countries inside and outside the region are equally responsible for maintaining and promoting peace, stability, along with aviation and navigation freedom, safety, and security in the East Sea.
The contributions must be based on international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the DOC aiming to reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) as soon as possible, he noted.