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In
the Vietnamese in Paris in May and June, and later in
December of 1977. At each of these meetings, we stated the
U.S. position that we were prepared to normalize relations
with Vietnam without preconditions; that we believed this could be best accomplished by an agreement to establish diplomatic relations and exchange embassies; and that once
relations were established and embassies in place, we would
lift the trade embargo we maintain against Vietnam.
addition, as Deputy Assistant Secretary. Robert Oakley made
clear during his recent testimony before this Subcommittee,
we emphasized that two factors would have an important effect
on the pace and timing of normalization and on the substance
of relations between us: Vietnamese willingness to follow
policies supportive of peace and stability in the region and
continued Vietnamese efforts to provide us with the fullest
possible accounting of our missing men.
!
The Vietnamese refused to accept our position and instead.
demanded that, linked to SRV efforts to provide an accounting
of our MIA's, the United States agree to provide direct
economic
relations.
assistance as part of any agreement to establish
This was their interpretation of the Paris Accords.
In addition the Vietnamese argued that the United States should
unilaterally lift the trade embargo before relations were
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established. In response, we stressed that neither the Congress
nor the Administration believed the U.S、 under any obligation
to provide aid or a commitment of aid to Vietnam. With regard
to the trade embargo, we stated our position that the