Vietnam Denounces US Distorting Fact of Religious Freedom in VietnamThat the US Commission on International Religious Freedom gave itself a right to pass judgments on religious situation in other countries is a gross interference in the internal affairs of other countries, a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman said.Vietnamese Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh made the remarks this afternoon at a press conference here in response to a relevant question. To pass judgments on religious situation in other countries by US Commission on International Religious Freedom goes against the United Nations Charter and this is unacceptable, Thanh stressed. The Spokeswoman noted "we have on many occasions affirmed that Vietnamese laws and the State of Vietnam always respect and ensure all citizens freedom to adhere to a religion or no religion. Vietnam's army daily Quan Doi Nhan Dan Thursday carried a commentary, also denouncing the judgments on religious situation in Vietnam and other countries. The commentary stressed that "the US hearing on religious rights, held by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom at US Congress on Tuesday, is an ill-intentioned move to grossly interfere in Vietnam's internal affairs." It said that "Again, public opinions have been misled by allegations repeated by forces hostile to Vietnam as part of their efforts to bar a full normalization between Vietnam and the United States". It noted that "By making remarks on the religious situation in other countries, including Vietnam, the United States has violated the fundamental laws and practices in international relations". The Vietnamese army's daily emphasized that "Vietnamese government and people wish to develop friendly and cooperative relations with the United States. But, Vietnam strongly condemns the slanderous allegations by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom about Vietnam's religious freedom and flatly rejects its illegal move". |
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