2004 Programs and Events

Former Ambassador Visits Lao P.D.R. (May 10, 2004)

Ambassador Charles Salmon, Former U.S. Ambassador to Lao P.D.R. (left) talks with Mr. Boungneuang Songnavong, Deputy Director General of the Institute for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Southam Sokonhninhom, Director General, Department of the Europe and the Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Charles B. Salmon, Jr., Foreign Policy Advisor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Former American Ambassador to the Lao P.D.R.(1992-1993), spoke on “Lao-American” relations at the Institute of Foreign Affairs on May 10. In his talk, Ambassador Salmon noted the issues affecting American foreign policy in Asia, and discussed the evolution of the American-Lao bilateral relationship has changed over the past ten years. He noted the benefits for both countries of passage of Normal Trade Relations by the American Congress, and importance to many Americans of the continuing search for the remains of Americans missing in action since the Indochina War, and described the benefits for both countries of Normalized Trade Relations (NTR), UXO issues, and focusing the improving the better understanding and boost the relationship between the two countries.

The talk was organized by the American Embassy and the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Southam Sokonhninhom, Director General, Department of the Europe and the Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave remarks on the Lao-American bilateral relationship. Deputy Director General of the Institute for Foreign Affairs Mr. Boungneuang Songnavong gave opening remarks and moderated the discussion. About 80 officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries participated in the talk and discussion.

Participants questioned Ambassador Salmon as to why the U.S. has not offered NTR with Laos. He replied that some Lao-American in the U.S. remain opposed to it, but that he hoped Congress would consider the issue soon. He also noted that the U.S. now has Normal Trade Relations, with both Vietnam and China, and that Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has visited Laos twice, which bodes well for the issue.