Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos have made significant commitments at the highest levels to increase their support for U.S. efforts to account for servicemen missing from the Vietnam War, according to Jerry D. Jennings, deputy assistant secretary of defense for prisoners-of-war/missing personnel (POW/MIA) affairs.

Jennings concluded three days of "breakthrough" talks in Vietnam and two days of talks in Cambodia and Laos, the Pentagon announced in news releases June 18 and June 24.

"I am encouraged by the progress we are seeing and believe recent new developments will lead to positive results," Jennings said.

Among the positive results, he reported, are a tentative agreement to open Vietnamese national archives, the first joint archival search effort publicly endorsed at the level of deputy prime minister. The search will focus in particular on the Ministry of National Defense.

Jennings' request to visit the Central Highlands, where local unrest has prevented POW/MIA search efforts for nearly three years, was granted by Vietnam's vice minister of public security, Nguyen Van Huong. According to the Pentagon, the visit should open the way for U.S. investigation and recovery teams to return to the area.

The Vietnamese government also agreed in principle to support underwater recovery operations. An assessment of technical requirements is being conducted, Jennings said.

During his visit to Vietnam, Jennings turned over hundreds of documents from U.S. archives containing information about the fate of Vietnamese soldiers who died in the war.

"This is a mutual humanitarian effort," Jennings said, "and we're committed to sharing information with Vietnam whenever we find it."

In Laos, officials agreed to a proposal for a five-ministry archival research initiative. Details of the agreement will be finalized by the end of July.

Officials of the Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian governments expressed support for the U.S.-hosted 2004 POW/MIA Consultations, according to Jennings. The consultations, intended to promote a "common vision for the future of POW/MIA accounting" among the four countries, will be held in Siem Reap, Cambodia in July. Jennings announced that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has accepted an invitation to speak.

United States Department of Defense
News Release
No. 606-04

June 24, 2004

Support by Cambodia and Laos Helps U.S. POW/MIA Search

Concluding two days of talks in Cambodia and Laos last week, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs, Jerry D. Jennings, announced several positive steps in America's effort to account for servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War.

Jennings, who oversees U.S. policies to account for POWs and MIAs, characterized his talks in these two countries as very positive. "I am encouraged by the progress we are seeing and believe recent new developments will lead to positive results," Jennings said.

During meetings with senior Cambodian officials, Jennings learned that Prime Minister Hun Sen accepted his invitation to speak in July at the 2004 POW/MIA Consultations in Siem Reap, Cambodia. These consultations mark an effort by the four countries to capture lessons learned on this sensitive issue and work toward a common vision for the future of POW/MIA accounting.

Lao officials agreed to Jennings' proposal for a five-ministry archival research initiative. Under this plan, Lao archivists will review documents for any information relating to American POWs and MIAs and provide their findings to U.S. officials for analysis. The Lao committed to working with U.S. technical experts over the next few weeks on details in order to formalize the arrangement by the end of July.

Lao officials announced that their delegation will also participate in the 2004 POW/MIA Consultations and voiced strong support for the initiative. These four-nation consultative talks were held for the first time last year in Bangkok, Thailand.

For additional information about POW/MIA recoveries, visit http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo [http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo] , or call the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office at (703) 699-1169.

(end text of June 24 release)

(begin text of June 18 release)

United States Department of Defense
News Release
No. 586-04

June 18, 2004

BREAKTHROUGH ANNOUNCED IN POW/MIA ACCOUNTING

The senior U.S. official responsible for policy oversight of accounting for American POWs and MIAs concluded three days of talks Thursday in Vietnam, marked by what he termed "clear and concrete positive steps" from SRV government officials.

Jerry D. Jennings, deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/MIA affairs, arrived in Vietnam Sunday for a series of discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as with senior officials in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, and Public Security. According to Jennings, "I'm very pleased at the outcome of our discussions here. This commitment from the highest levels of the Vietnamese government offers us the opportunity to achieve significant results."

Jennings cited specifically the positive outcome of discussions to gain access to Vietnamese national archives, with the central focus on the Ministry of National Defense. Vietnamese archivists will be permitted to pursue POW/MIA leads wherever the information may take them. This is the first joint archival search effort publicly endorsed at the level of the deputy prime minister.

In another significant breakthrough, the Vice Minister of Public Security, Nguyen Van Huong, granted a request from Jennings to visit the Central Highlands, an area to which access had been denied for POW/MIA activities for nearly three years due to sporadic local unrest. His visit is expected to allow for the return to the area by U.S. investigation and recovery teams.

Jennings also cited good support in his interviews with senior Vietnamese wartime leaders, whose recollections may provide important POW/MIA information on wartime activities and policy to help the United States locate its missing servicemen.

He noted the Vietnamese agreed in principle to support underwater recovery operations. Currently an assessment of technical requirements is being conducted and when it is completed a decision will be made regarding what type of vessel and equipment would offer the best opportunities for success. He also welcomed Vietnam's support for the U.S.-hosted 2004 POW/MIA consultations with Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, which will take place in Cambodia in late July.

During the visit, Jennings turned over hundreds of documents from U.S. national archives containing information about Vietnamese soldiers who died during the war. "This is a mutual humanitarian effort," he said, "and we're committed to sharing information with Vietnam whenever we find it."

For additional information about POW/MIA recoveries, visit http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo , or call the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office at (703) 699-1169.