Time is short for Vietnam in PNTR talks as Congress prepares to take summer leave in July, on the eve of elections in September. Vietnam has mobilised all of its diplomatic resources to finish lobbying by July. Vice chairwoman of the National Assembly’s External Relations Committee, Ton Nu Thi Ninh, spoke with VietNamNet.

Vietnam-US relations are on a positive track toward stable links. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the US last summer and Speaker of US House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert has just visited Vietnam. These are very positive aspects.

I could sense the goodwill in feedback from Hastert and his entourage during their recent visit. PNTR will be voted on in Congress and a majority is a must to grant PNTR.

The second plus is President Bush’s visit to Vietnam for the APEC summit this November. It’s likely the US set out targets for positive achievements in bilateral relations ahead of the visit.

There exists a distinct difference between the executive branch (the government) and legislative branch in the US, but to some extent, the US government will have a positive impact on PNTR with Vietnam. In Congress, Republican members and President Bush will likely support the vote.

Republicans tend toward free trade rather than the Democrats, who opt for domestic market protectionism. Our first challenge would be from the Democrats, though they are big supporters of political relations with Vietnam, trade relations are complicated.

The second hurdle would be the difference between the Congress and the US Government. Voters would lobby congressmen to protect their regional or enterprises’ interests. Given the assumption that the US has "compromised a little" in negotiation with Vietnam, they can lobby their congressmen to bring this out for hearing at the Congress. We may ask for help from US friends to know what the challenges will be for a better course of action.

Another challenge might be some critics on our democracy and human rights records. Some may criticize us despite granting us WTO entry; but some, provoked by extremist overseas Vietnamese, may cause detrimental pressure. They may draft human rights records as conditions of the final agreement.

With two months remaining, how will we lobby?

The National Assembly and Government will undertake the lobbying, but I cannot specify any details here. I am preparing for a trip to the US now too.

uccess will come as we cooperate with friends in US, such as enterpreneurs, lawyers and lobbyists. We cannot hold discussions with everyone as there are more than 400 congressmen and 100 senators.

The main battle would be in the House of Representatives, the Senate would be easier. The NA will support our embassy to lobby.

PNTR are effective in Vietnam’s WTO membership in VN-US relations only. As I have said, that US Congress would gratify the PNTR is possible rather than 100 percent. If it falls to the unfortunate minority, Vietnam must strive for the multilateral negotiation round in Geneva and with WTO’s General Council.

If the General Council, headed by Director General Pascal Lamy, works vigorously in the coming three months to finish multilateral negotiations, we can enter the WTO before November. WTO membership will apply for Vietnam and other WTO members but not for the US.

Our preferred plan now is a "marathon" on all fronts to finish the bilateral negotiation (including PNTR) and multilateral simultaneously before November.

So if the wind is on our side, Vietnam can enter WTO before November?

It is possible if we have prompt and proper actions in different forums.

Up to now, does the development of our legal code meet WTO requirements?

"The legal framework now meets WTO requirements"

We have received positive comments on the development of our legal code during the visit with Deputy Chairman of NA, Nguyen Van Yeu, to US early this year. Our legal framework basically has met WTO’s requirement since last year. Other laws like the Securities Law ratified in coming time are extra supplements. The sole hurdle now is to timely implement them with proper documentation if needed.

The difficult thing for us is not our legal code but rather its implementation. Law implementation can be inconsistent between central and local governments.

During talks with foreign partners, they showed concern for legal implementation rather than its creation. They hailed the development of our laws.

Van Tien

Source: Vietnam Net - 19/05/2006