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<span style="font-size: 24px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vietnam suggests ASEAN set up UXO expert group</span> </span></div>
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Updated : 04/04/2013 13:01 GMT + 7
</span></div><br><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>As an initiative to resolve the serious consequences and threats
of unexploded bombs, mines and explosives leftover from wars, Vietnam
has proposed that ASEAN set up a group of experts in charge of the
field. </b><br>
<br>
The initiative was proposed by Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieut.
Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials’ Meeting
(ADSOM) in Brunei on Tuesday, April 2.<br>
<br>
Speaking at the event, Vinh said such an initiative will be helpful not
only for Vietnam but also for other countries which are facing heavy
consequences and threats from bombs, mines and explosives left
unresolved from wars in the past.<br>
<br>
The initiative, which Vinh said would help maintain peace, stability
and development in the region, won support from delegates at the
meeting.<br>
<br>
Vietnam’s initiative will contribute to strengthening cooperation
within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus
(ADMM+) and benefit people in the region, delegates said.<br>
<br>
At a meeting on the UXO issue in Hanoi on February 26, 2013, Vietnamese
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized the need to effectively
settle the consequences of unexploded ordnance (UXO) leftover from wars
fought in previous decades.<br>
<br>
The PM asked the State Steering Committee of the National Action
Program on Settling Consequences of UXO to negotiate with donors to
sponsor the implementation of a program to help people avoid the
consequences of UXO, along with assisting UXO victims.<br>
<br>
He also said the government has adopted a lot of policies and spent
hundreds of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$48,000) on resolving
UXO-related issues.<br>
<br>
At another meeting on April 1, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan
said more than 20 percent of the land in Vietnam is still contaminated
with bombs and mines and over 100,000 people, mostly children and
breadwinners, have been killed or injured.</span></div><div><span></span></div><div></div></div></body></html>