U.S. war veterans have expressed their hope to make further contributions to solving the aftermath of war, especially in solving the Agent Orange/dioxin issue and assisting in the clearance of leftover unexploded ordnance. At a reception given to 15 members of the U.S. organization, Veterans for Peace (VFP), in Hanoi on April 18, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Van Kien welcomed the visit by the VFP delegation. Kien took the occasion to thank VFP for their support for Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims in their lawsuit against U.S. chemical companies for manufacturing and supplying toxic chemicals used by US troops during the war in Vietnam. He said he hopes for further cooperation between VFP, VUFO and the Vietnam-America Society in promoting the two countries’ friendship, especially in humanitarian issues and overcoming the aftermath of the war. For his part, VFP Chapter 160 Chairman Suel D. Jone said the visit is an opportunity for VFP members to return to Vietnam to witness changes and inquire into humanitarian projects in the country. During the visit from April 17 to May 1, 2012, the VFP delegation is scheduled to visit AO victims’ families and care centers, and the project to detoxify dioxin-affected Da Nang Airport. They will also hold working sessions with the AO Victims Associations in Hanoi, central coastal Danang city, central Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Tri provinces and meet with Vietnamese war veterans in HCM City on April 30. (vietnamplus.vn Apr 19)
