VNA Mr Nguyen Van An elected NA chairman Mr Nguyen Van An, a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam was elected National Assembly chairman on Wednesday morning. Mr Nguyen Van An, currently director of the Partyıs Central Commission for personnel, is to replace the incumbent, Mr Nong Duc Manh, who was elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the Ninth Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in April. Mr Nguyen Van An was born on October 1, 1937 in My Tan, in the suburban of Nam Dinh town, Nam Dinh province. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the Sixth Congress and elected to the Politburo at the Eighth Congress. He was re-elected to the Politburo of the Party and Secretariat at the Ninth Congress in April. Also during this session, the National Assembly also approved the appointment of two ministers. Mr Pham Quang Nghi, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, currently secretary of Ha Nam provincial Party committee, was named minister of culture and information to replace Mr Nguyen Khoa Diem, a politburo member who is now head of the Central Party Commission for Culture and Ideology. Mr Tran Danh Thai, rector of the university for physical education and sports, was named chairman and minister of the National Committee for Physical Education and Sports. **** NA discusses amendments to Constitution and Son La project National Assembly (NA) deputies on Tuesday continued discussing the amendments of and supplements to some articles of the 1992 Constitution and the investment of the Son La hydro-electric power project during their plenary meeting. Eight deputies from eight provinces and cities contributed their opinions concerning the guidelines to the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution. Before concluding the discussion on the Constitution, NA Chairman Nong Duc Manh said that most NA deputies agreed with the NA Standing Committee's statement saying that only some articles of the 1992 Constitution on the State apparatus needed to be amended and supplemented but there was no need to change the Constitution. Deputies contributed their ideas on the renovation of organisation and operation of the NA; the method of operation and organisational structure of the government apparatus; the role and organisation of the People's Council and the People's Committee and the organisation and jurisdiction of the People's Procuracy and the People's Court. In the afternoon, six deputies from six provinces and cities contributed their opinions on the investment in building the Son La hydro-electric power plant, dealing mainly with the scale of the project; the safety for the project and for the lowland areas; the socio-economic efficiency of the project; resettlement; protection of environment and cultural heritage, the guarantee for security and defence; the water supply in the dry season and flood prevention in the wet season and the finance for the project. **** Practical healing would ease American veterans' conscience: spokeswomanConcrete and practical actions to heal the wounds of war in Vietnam would be the best way for American veterans to find peace for their conscience, said spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Phan Thuy Thanh in Hanoi yesterday. "We understand the incomparable losses experienced by our people in Thanh Phong village and southern Ben Tre province. We understand the significance of Lawyer John DeCamp's actions, and fully respect the desire for compensation among the families of those killed in the Thanh Phong village massacre," Ms Thanh noted. Asked by a Reuters correspondent to comment on a proposal made by Lawyer John DeCamp to Senator Bob Kerrey to set up a compensation fund for the victims' families, Ms Thanh further said: "The aggressive war against Vietnam by the Americans has left behind heavy consequences. Bob Kerrey's story was just one case and there might be a number of similar stories to be uncovered in the future." In regard to relations with the United States and other former war foes, the spokeswoman confirmed Vietnam's policy to continue co-operation and promote mutual understanding in line with the nation's humanitarian and friendly traditions. "To continue developing friendly ties between Vietnam and the US is also a way to solve the consequences left by the past," Ms Thanh said in conclusion. (VNA) **** Cuban military officer ends visit Senior Lieutenant General Alvaro Lopez Miera, Chief of General Staff of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, left Hanoi on Tuesday, June 26, concluding week long official visit to Vietnam. During his visit, he laid wreaths at the Monument to Fallen Combatants and at the Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh. The General called on Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Pham Van Tra, and held talks with Lieutenant General Phung Quang Thanh who is Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. He also visited the Hanoi Anti-Aircraft Division, the Commands of Military Zones No 3 and No 7, Ho Chi Minh City, and Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh province. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Laos promote co-operationA delegation of the Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI) led by Deputy Minister Phan Khac Hai visited Laos from June 19-26. The delegation held talks with a delegation of the Lao Information and Culture Ministry led by Deputy Miniser Boban Volakhun. The two sides informed each other of the socio-economic situation in their respective countries. They praised the two countries' co-operation in culture and information over the recent past and agreed to measures to promote co-operation in the coming period. A plan for Vietnam-Laos cultural and information co-operation in 2001 and 2002 was signed in Vientiane on June 25 by the two deputy ministers. Under the plan, the two ministries will promote co-operation by organising more visits for artists and culturists. Vietnam will receive Lao officials for short-term refresher courses at MoCI's School for Managers and teachers of the Lao National Conservatory for working visits. Meanwhile, a delegation of central Ha Tinh province led by Dinh Le Bau, secretary of the provincial Party Committee and president of the provincial People's Council, paid a working visit to Lao central Khammouane province. The two provinces' officials had a working session, reviewing bilateral co-operation, particularly co-ordination in maintaining security and social order along the two countries' borders. A memorandum of understanding was signed on this occasion, providing for further co-operation between the two provinces in maintaining security in border areas in order to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Lao businesses to boost co-operation and investment. (VNA) **** Greek Communist Party leader receives Vietnam delegationGeneral secretary of the Communist Party of Greece Central Committee, Aleka Papariga received a delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in Athens on June 23. General Secretary Aleka congratulated Vietnam for its achievements in the current process of renovation. He expressed his belief that the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the CPV, would successfully implement the Resolution of the recent Ninth National Congress in order to continue with national industrialisation and modernisation. The CPV delegation led by Pham Van Chuong, Deputy Director of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations, has been in Athens for an international gathering of communists and workers' parties. The meeting entitled 'Communists and Trade Union Movement' drew the participation of 50 parties from Europe, Asia, Africa, Northern America, Latin America and Australia. (VNA) **** Localities respond to anti-drug day Meeting entitled 'Sports against Drugs' held in Hanoi. Various activities were initiated in many localities nationwide on Tuesday to call for efforts from people and agencies to fight drugs. The People's Committee of Hanoi, together with the National Committee for AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Control, held a meeting entitled 'Sports against Drugs' to respond to the national anti-drugs day, June 26. Participants gathered in groups to march along streets and roads in Hanoi to publicise the danger of drugs. Hundreds of slogans, posters and banners were made to help strengthen the anti-drugs campaign. Ho Chi Minh City young people learn about the danger of drugs. Young people in Ho Chi Minh participated in many activities to raise awareness among people about the danger of drugs. Drivers in the city were also encouraged to join the fight against drugs in their residences and working places, assist young addicts to give up drugs and create opportunities for them to find jobs and participate in healthy activities. A large number of anti-drug documents were provided to drivers to deliver to passengers. **** Hanoi's first test-tube baby born Hanoi's first baby conceived by in vitro fertilisation was born on June 26 at the Newborn Baby and Mother Care Hospital. Mrs Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuong, 35, in Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, has been married for ten years but is sterile. She and her husband decided to use in vitro fertilisation at the hospital. After 36 weeks, she gave birth to a healthy girl, weighing 2.9 kilograms. The success raises hope for couples who are unable to give birth naturally. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
