[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[December 14, 1992]
[Page 2187]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on Relations With Vietnam
December 14, 1992

    The United States is today taking additional steps concerning our 
policy towards Vietnam. The decision to take these steps is in response 
to Vietnam's implementation of agreements reached with the President's 
Special Emissary for POW-MIA Affairs, General John Vessey. It is in 
keeping with the established ``roadmap'' policy of a step-by-step 
process for normalizing relations with Vietnam.
    Effective today, the United States will permit U.S. firms to sign 
contracts to be executed should the embargo with Vietnam be lifted. To 
assist U.S. firms, we will also begin implementing a decision that 
permits a liberal licensing policy allowing commercial transactions 
relating to contracts, including opening offices in Vietnam, hiring 
staff, writing and designing plans, and carrying out preliminary 
feasibility studies and engineering and technical surveys. Other than 
these actions, the embargo with Vietnam remains in effect.
    We look to Vietnam to intensify efforts to achieve the fullest 
possible accounting of all our POW-MIA's, including the rapid 
repatriation of all recovered and readily recoverable American remains. 
In this context, we have noted Hanoi's recent call for Vietnamese 
citizens to turn in any American remains they may possess. As further 
results in accounting for missing Americans are obtained, we are 
prepared to consider additional ``roadmap'' steps of our own.