AFP EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DRV FOREIGN MINISTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: May 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 23, 1974
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4
emIS C
AFP EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DRV FOREIGN MINISTER
B230025 HONG KONG AF? IN ENGLISH 0015 GMT 23 JAN 74 B ""
(BY JEAN VICENT)
. (TEXT) HANOI JAN. 22 (AFP) NORTH VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER
NGUYEN DUY TRINE( TCD4Y RULED OUT ANY IDEA OF A NORTH VIETNAMESE"
OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE- SOUTH. -%`
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH 1AFP ON THE" OCCASION OF THE :
GREEMENT ON
S
A
FIRST ANNIVERSARY Or THE SIGNING. OF THE. PARI
VIETNAM, MR TRINH SAID THAT "DURING THE PRESENT RHASE, THE
ESSENTIAL TASKS.OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE CONSIST OF.: SAFEGUARDING
PEACE: AND OF RECONSTRUCTING WAR-TORN VIETNAM.
T)IE FOLLOWING IS THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE QUESTIONS AND .0
'
"THE ANSWERS GIVEN BY MR TRINH DURING THE INTERVIEW,:
Eslu ONE YEAR AFTER. THE SIGNING OF THE PARIS
AGREEMENT, WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT CORRECT TO SAY THAT THE WAR
IN VIETNAM HAS ENOzD?
yESYI(~N TWO:_ WHAT IS THE MAIN FACTOR TO WHICH YOU ASCRIBE-
1E FACT THAT MILITARY OPERATIONS ARE.STILL TAKING PLACE IN SOUTH
r%"00-0 lruccr*.
OPERATIONS CAUSED MORE THAN 50,000 DE.ATk1S ON BOTH SIDES DURING
73, AND THAT AMERICA'RECONNAISSANCE.. FLIGHTS OVER NORTH VIETNAM
19
OCCUR RATER FREQUENTLY?
'tESTION THREE: YOU ARE ONE OF. THE ARCHITECTS OF THE. PARIS
F THE AMERICAN-VIETNAMESE
'
EM .N1 ON VIE aAtT M, AS WELL. AS "O
R
JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF JUNE. 13;,_ 1973. WHAT IS ' YOUR IMPRESSION
LIED?
N
.
G APP
THE-WAY IN WHICH THESE TEXTS ARE. BEI
PLYZ
CT MENTIONED IN YOUR SECOND QUESTION SUPPLIES THE ANSWER
VIE FA
101HE FIRST. THE FACT IS THAT THE UNITED STATES--FAR FROM BREAKING
ILITARY ENGAGEMENT AND ITS INTERFERENCE IN THE DOMESTIC
F. ITS M
V FAIRS OF SOUTH VIETNAM,. AS REQUIRED BY THE PARIS AGREEMENT--_HAS
F MILITARY
LIAINTAINED AND EVEN STRENGTHENED ITS CORPS O
ADVISERS, NOW CAMOUFLAGED AS CIVILIAN PERSONNEL.
IT HAS ALSO FURNISHED A FLOOD OF MATERIEL TO SAIGON'.S ARMY,
WHICH--THANKS TO IS SUPPORT AND; ENCOURAGEMENT-- IS CONTINUING
TO LAUNCH ENCORACHMENT OPERATIONS AGAINST THE AREAS LIBERATED BY
THE PROVISIONAL REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
SOUTH VIETNAM, AS WELL AS POLICE AND ."PACIFICATION" OPERATIONS.
IN THE AREAS UNDER ITS CONTROL, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
POLITICAL PRISONERS REMAIN CHAINED IN THE PRISONS AND
DETENTION CAMPS OF THE SAIGON ADMINISTRATION.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11: LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4 AT ION
-a- 44-_ ....
,~
THE DEMUCRA1.1c. r u~-
HE dIPARTIIE
MAftltiG N0
CONTINUE '10 BE TRAMS OF LA~CELLE~SAINT~CLOU THE
CONSULTATIVE CONFERENC
PROGRESS TOWARD THE. SETTLEMENT OF THE DOMESTIC ISSUES OF SOUTHe
VIETNAM.
THE MAIN FACTOR GIVING RISER= THISCSERIOUS USITUATIONNGNYSNSOUTH
VIETNAM IS WASSHINGTQN S OB,STIN E
VAN THIEU ADMINIStRATION 'AS AN INTERMEDIARY, WASHINGTON IS AIMING
ISM ON SOUTH VIETNAM AS A WHOLE AND
COLONIAL
AT IMPOSING U.S.. t.'EO- AT MAKING IT A_SEFARATE "NATION"--THUS PERPETUATING THE
NAM
OF
I
va.a..,r
DIVISION
HOWEVER, THE RESULTS OF A YEAR'S APPLICATION OF THEEPARISATION S
AGREEMENT HAVE. PROVEN THE IRREVERSIBLE EVOLUTION OF
IN SOUTH VIETNAM*
HE UNITED STATES HAS E
N
?
ND
T
IN THE FIRST PLACE,TOOOVER A
-
AN
PUTTING
RCE
.
,.:
WITHDRAW ITS EXPEDITIONARY FO
CENTURY OF FOREIGN MILITARY OCCUPATION ~,HOF THE E: SYSTEMATIC OVIOLATOIONS OF
D P A
,
FATHERLAND. AND IN THE SECON
THE PARIS AGREEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE SAIGON ADMINISTRATION
HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE ENERGETIC OPPOSITION~LATRE LIBERATION
ARMED FORCES AND THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE POPULATION*
IN SPITE' OF ALL THEIR EFFORTS,. THEY 'HAVE NOT. MANAGED TO TUKN
THE DE FACTO SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM IN THEIR FAVOUR+DIFFEREN?
WHILE THE SAIGON.-:-..
IN THAT AREA 'THERE ARE TWO -GOVERNME , TWO CONTROL ZONES AND THREE POLITICAL FORCES.
POSITIONS 'A SOUTHIdIETNAM~At~D AT-EVERY
THE REVOLUTIONARY FORCES IN
IrNTER NAT TONAL PRESTIGE OF THE PRG (PROVISIONAL REVOLUTIONARY
GOVERNNMENT) ARE CONTINUOUSLY GROWING.
' E PARIS AGREEMENT IS. STILL A VERY VALUABLE ' POLITICAL" AND.
LEGAL VEAFON . IN. T-I(E ;HAND , OF THE V TNAM ITS SE EOPLEAASRIT STRUGGLES
FOR, THE FULL A0 COMPLETE ATTAINMENT
ESTIO FouRI PRE DE&T NGUYEN VAD THIEU, HEADLOFg EEIETHER
SAIGON E-ADERS~I~oALI~It~~IQ7VF.RNMEt~T INTHAT SOUTHRVIETNA[~r AND
SECT IONS NOR
THAT "THE WAR WOULD" . CO-OT IUE. HE OR .R OF THE.
DAY I.I Sg.RUCT'I G HIS TROOPS
CONTROLLED BY .T1rEE CDMMCtNXSIUNDER WILI.SUCH
BEIAPPL.IEDNSOME DAY?OU
'ILL HOPE VAT. THE PARIS AGREEMENT
23 -JAN 0-14-51 P BG
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4 J QVIC.KQ FBIS 25 FDR CIFFTCM flew nu. LL
-*'FIRST ADD 03 (IRiNH INTERVIEW) L7fi ?S .
XXX APPLIED SOME DAY?
(TEXT) QU .STION F IV 's AMERIC
AN DEFENCE SECRETARY JAMES
SCHLESINGER RECENT THREATENED NORTH VIETNAM AND THE PRG-CONTROLLED
WITH TACTICAL AL RAIDS IN CASE OF A GENERAL OFFENSIVE ,.TRaLLED
~-AGAINST THE SOUTH SUCH AS THOSE OF 1968 AND 1972. DO YOU BELIEVE
THAT SUCH AN ? OFFENSIVE. IS BEING PLANNED?
REPLY:
iCAL CALLS FOR A WAR TO SABOTAGE
THE PARIS AGREEMENT AS WELL AS TAE AMERICAN
SAND WORLD QPiNiO THREATS MADE IN SUPPORT
OF THESE CALLS CERTAINLY CONSTITUTE A COYNICAL DEFIANCE, OF VIETNAMESE
:V, .....
NGUYEN VAN- THI= ll' g HYSTER
M..NVT ON VlkTNAM. THE RECENT VIOLENT
SOMBARDi01E:;1TS OF TAE LIBERATED ZONES OF' THE PRG, THE LARGE-SCALE:
ENCRDACHMF.,IT OPERATIONS ON THE HIGH PLATEAUS AND ON THE MEKONG
PLAIN,,:. AND THE FREQUENT VIOLATION
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF. VIETiVA"! GIVEaYOUHSOMERIDEACOFOWHATEI
AFOOT., S NOW
HEY MAKE TO JUSTIFY THEIR
WARMONG.ERI!TG HYSTERIA ARE SIMPLY INTENDED TO MISLEAD PUBLIC OPINION,
AND TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR NEW ADVENTURES AND FOR MORE SERIOUS
VIOLATIONS OF THE PARIS AGREE
THE SLANDiROUS ALLEGATIONS T
ALL THESE ACTS OF WAR HAVE
'
MET
WITH, AND WILL MEET WITH,
SEVERE PUNISHMENT, THE UNITED STATES AND THE SAIGON ADMINISTRA
tE ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FDR T}fsQ TION
FBIOt3IT ?a-- CE SAID, SOCIALISM IS A MATTER
IES. IN THIS CASE WHAT IS THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
VIETNAM'S PRIORITY? MANY PEOPLE ARE ASKING 14PL TERMS: -15 IT PEACE .OR IS. IT WAR?" WHATHIS~YOUR OPINION
NT41SPOINT?
REPLY:
DURING THE PRESENT PHASE
F
,
OLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE' PARIS
AGREEMENT,- THE ESS4:NTIAL TASKS OF THE VIETN
SAFEGUARDING PEACE, ;TAKING IT STABLE AND LASTING, PB INDINGOUPIST OF
IRE WOUNDS OF WAR AND BUILDING SOCIALISM IN THE NORTH, COMPLETING.
THE NATIONAL AND DEMOCRATIC TASKS IN THE SOUTH, AND MOVING TOWARD
PEACEFUL RE.UNIFICAI ION OF THE COUNTRY. THESE. TASKS BEAR A CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP TO ,ENE ANOTHER,,.
OBVIOUSLY GREAT VIGILANCE IS NECESSARY IN THE DE; ]CRATIC REPUBLIC
OF VIETNAM TO FACE THE SERIOUS SITUATION DESCRIBED IN MY PREVIOUS
REPLY,: 10 CHECK ANY ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE THE PARIS AGREEMENT,.
VD THUS TO SAFEGUARD IRE FRUITS OF. THE PEACEFUL LABOUR Of OUR PEOPLE.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4
QUEST 10 14 1
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4
OUST ION- SEVEN: IDES THE EVENTS TAKING P CE IN. VIETNAM,
CUNT NUING IN CAMBODIA, AND MOREOVER "T" HE
'1..
SITUATION IN LAOS REMAINS RELATIVELY UNCERTAIN. UNDER SUCH
CIRCUMSTANCES, DO YOU BELIEVE II IS POSSIBLE TO REACH A STRICTLY
VIETNAMES4 SETTLEMENT? RATHER, IS :IT NOT NECESSARY TO REACM
A GENERAL S4T1LEMtNT ON ALL :INDOCHINA,. OR PERHAPS EVEN ON THE
WHOLE OF SOUTHEAST A$I
.REPLY-2
THE SETTLEMENT OF THE VIETNAMESE PROBLEMS HAS ALREADY :BEEN
.
EFFECTIVELY LAID DOWN IN THE PARIS AGREEMENT. THE VIENTIANE
;
E1oi i;r NT AND ITS PROTOCOL HAVE DONE. THE SAME FOR THE LAOTIA 1'
AGRE
-
. PROBLEM. THE CAMBODIAN PROBLEM MUST : BE SETTLED BY IHE.'CArrOD1IANS
THEMSELVES WITHOUT FOREIGN .INTERFERE?NCE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TH '
MARCH 23, 197Q, DECLARATION OF PRINCE NJORODOM.SIHANOUK AND
THE POLITICAL PROGRAMME OF THE NUFC., CCAP ODIAN NATIONAL UNITED
FRONT.
.OUT THE -PARIS AND
THE FAILURE OF THE UNITED STATES TO CARRY
,
VIENTIANE AGREEMENTS AND THE U.S.LACK OF GOOD' FAITH IN FAI.LINC' ;-:.
.. TO PUT AN. E.ND TO THIS SITUATION BY :.RENO UHCING:~ ITS NEO-COLONIALIST :
ATTAINMENT OF T 3UE PEACE IN THE THREE COUNTR.IES OF INDOCHINA ""
:,..PEOPLES
. ON THE. BASIS OF RESPECT FOR' THE. NATIONAL.RIGHT.S OF THE
OF I HOSE NAT 101 M.
QUESTION EIGHT: ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS THE HANOI NEWSPAPERS:
THAT THIS CONTRADICTION WAS EXPLOITED TO THE. S AXIMUM PO.SS,IBLE,
EaENT BY "AMERICAN IMPERIALISM AND 'THE SAIGONESE.'" WHAT A
You THINK OF THE USE OF THIS CONTRADICTION AS FAR AS THE APPLICATION
OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT ON VIETNAM . IS; CONCERNE'D`
'REPLY'S
. AS FAR AS THE APPLICATION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT IS- CONCERNED,
.THE GOVERNMENT O F THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND THE .
PROVI'S.IONAL REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT OF THE, REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
. VIETNAM HAVE ALWAYS ADVOCATED STRICT RESPECT FOR AND SCRUPULOUS
.EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT--AND THEY DEMAND-'OF THE .UNITED STATES
AND THE SAIGON ADMINISTRrAIION; THAT THEY DO LIKEWISE.
THE SOVIET UNION9 PEOPLE' S CHINA, AND ALL OF THE SOCIALIST
COUNTRIES HAVE ALWAYS GIVE THEIR FIRM AND TOTAL SUPPORT;: TO THIS
JUST POSITION OF .THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE
QUESTION NINE: IT SEEMS THAT THE NEV RELATIONS AT THE
AMBASSADORIAL LEVEL BETW.EE9 FRANCE ANfDD THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC`
OF VIETNAM HAVE NOT YET REACHED THE DEGREE OF DYNAMISM THAT SOME
PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE HOPED FOR--AT LEAST PARTIALLY BECAUSE Of THE
FRENCH DECISION NOT TO GRANT DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION TO THE PRG.
(MORE)
23 JAN 0325Z PK/GS
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/05/11 : LOC-HAK-250-1-8-4