(PLO)- People doing diplomatic work must have an overall view, know themselves, know people, in order to make forecasts about the situation of the parties. If your prediction is wrong, the negotiation will lose.
50 years ago, on January 27, 1973, at the Kléber Street Convention Center in Paris, the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam was officially signed. The following year, the country was completely unified, mountains and rivers connected a strip.
Half a century later, most of those who participated or witnessed directly in this historic event are gone, but for the few who remain, the memories and emotions are still filled despite the contributions of the people. they are very quiet.
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Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan: 4 lessons from the Paris Agreement |
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Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan. Photo: VNA More than 200 public sessions, 45 high-level private meetings
. Reporter: Sir, could you tell us the background that led to the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (Paris Agreement) in 1973?+
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan
: In 1965, the US sent troops into the South of our country to directly participate in the war while increasing bombing raids in the North. The 13th Party Central Committee Conference (term III) meeting in January 1967 set out the motto “just fight and talk”, “fire” the diplomatic offensive.
On March 27, 1967, in an interview with Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett, Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh emphasized that only after the US did this (that is, unconditional and permanent cessation of bombing raids) and other military actions against the North of our country), only the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the United States “can talk”.
During the reception to welcome the Mongolian Foreign Minister to visit our country on December 29, 1967, Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh repeated the above statement but changed one word. At that time, I was working as a translator for the Minister. He reminded me to pay attention, changing the word “can” (can talk) to “will”. That declaration resonated widely around the world, paving the way for the Paris peace talks.
During the five-year period (1968-1973), the Paris Agreement went through more than 200 public sessions, 45 high-level private meetings, thousands of interviews and rallies. On January 23, 1973, “Agreement to end the war and restore peace in Vietnam” was initialed by two special advisers Le Duc Tho and Henry Kissinger. On January 27, 1973, the four foreign ministers of the United States, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam officially signed the Paris Agreement.
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In that context, what advantages and disadvantages does Vietnam have in order to successfully sign the Paris Agreement?
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On the difficult side, we have made great losses and sacrifices when fighting against a powerful force like the US. The second difficulty is that our fellow socialist countries have disagreements. Therefore, how to deal with allies in the context of their contradictions is also a difficult problem for Vietnamese diplomats. |
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan: 4 lessons from the Paris Agreement
photo 2 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam Nguyen Thi Binh signed the Paris Agreement on Vietnam on January 27, 1973 at the International Convention Center in Paris, France. Photo: VNA
The longest negotiation in history
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How do you assess the significance of this negotiation? + This is probably the longest negotiation to end the war and restore peace in history. In terms of meaning, the Paris peace talks helped us to fulfill half of Uncle Ho’s advice. That is “beating the Americans out” so that two years later, we complete the remaining part of “beating the puppets”, reunifying the country. The Paris Agreement provided the North with conditions for economic recovery to reinforce the South and at the same time enhance Vietnam’s position in the international arena.
At that time, I was just over 30 years old, accompanying Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh during the negotiations in Paris, then the International Conference on Vietnam (March 2, 1973) where 12 countries signed the Agreement on recognition of the Paris Agreement. . I am extremely proud when Vietnam is “on par” with other countries.
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What lessons have you learned from those experiences in your diplomatic career later?
+ The Paris Agreement has left many lessons for Vietnamese diplomats. I am not directly involved in the negotiation, just a person present. Personally, I draw four lessons, temporarily called 4K, are: Combination, Consistency, Perseverance and Wise.
Firstly, we have combined the strength of the whole nation and combined different fronts such as military, politics, diplomacy, combined the strength of the nation with the strength of the times, the strength of the economic.
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Finally, I think being a diplomat is a must. Strategic research is extremely important. If you don’t understand the political, economic, and military situation, you can’t do diplomacy. Diplomats must have an overall view, know themselves, know people, in order to make forecasts about the situation of the parties. If your prediction is wrong, the negotiation will lose. |
I admire the “golden generation” of Vietnamese diplomats such as Mr. Le Duc Tho, Xuan Thuy, Nguyen Duy Trinh, Nguyen Co Thach… They are veteran revolutionaries, experienced in life, have steadfast will, vision and great bravery.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan: 4 lessons from the Paris Agreement
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General Vo Nguyen Giap and former US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who used to command both sides of the front line, met face-to-face for the first time in Hanoi on November 9, 1995 after the two countries normalized relations. generation. Photo: AFP/VNA broadcast
Vietnam wins because of culture
. In recent years, the building of a national, ethnic and cultural value system is considered as an endogenous power, a “soft power” for national development. What do you think about the role of culture in diplomacy?
+ When US Secretary of Defense McNamara visited Vietnam, he asked General Vo Nguyen Giap why we won the US? The general replied that Vietnam won because of culture, not military.
I understand that the General means “soft power” of the nation because “hard power” means our military weapons are always limited.
Vietnam’s national strength is created by patriotism and solidarity. In addition, Vietnamese people have humanistic qualities and open-minded personalities. President George Bush (father) as well as many other officials asked me why the Vietnamese people never showed a negative attitude towards the former enemy. I replied that we always steadfastly protect our country, our country and at the same time are very open, when the war is over, we are always ready to close the past, look to the future. Besides, if we Vietnamese hold grudges forever, who can we live with because so many big countries come to invade Vietnam.
I think, when interacting with international friends, each of us needs to become “ambassadors” conveying the quintessence of national culture in general and Vietnamese diplomatic culture in particular to the international community. economic. Unfortunately, there are people who not only can’t “show off” the beauty, but also reveal the not-so-beautiful, not-so-good features. If these “smudges” are not removed, the national culture and diplomatic culture of Vietnam will hardly shine.
. Thank you very much!
A very special Tet
Tet in 1973 – Spring of the Ox, right after the Paris Agreement was successfully signed, was a very special Tet. The feeling at that time is still intact in me to this day.
Accompanying Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh back from France, through the Soviet Union, China…, I witnessed a jubilant and joyful atmosphere along the way. International people, leaders of countries and overseas Vietnamese all shared their joy with the Vietnamese delegation.
When we arrived at Gia Lam airport, it was also the time of Tet. The people of the North welcomed a very special Tet: After years of arduous resistance, bullets exploded, bombs fell, losses and sacrifices, now, we welcome the first spring of freedom, no more whistles. alarm down to the shelter, no more scenes of evacuation and escape.
However, behind that exciting atmosphere, the Central Committee quietly planned new battles so that two years later, we liberated the South and reunified the country.
Immediately after April 30, 1975, I received the decision to accompany Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh to the Soviet Union to attend the 30th anniversary of victory over fascism (May 9, 1945 – May 9, 1975). This event suddenly became a celebration for peace in Vietnam. That atmosphere made me very emotional and is a good memory in my career.