VGP- Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng said the Việt Nam-Laos special ties is an invaluable asset of the two nations, which should be preserved and further
Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and the Lao National Assembly’s Chairwoman Pany Yathotu , Hà Nội, August 25, 2011
Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng made the statement on August 25 when receiving the Lao National Assembly’s Chairwoman Pany Yathotu, who is leading the Lao high-ranking delegation to Việt Nam.
The Party General Secretary hailed Ms. Pany Yathotu’s first overseas visit to Việt Nam in the capacity of the Lao top legislator as a demonstration of the traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two Parties, two States, two National Assemblies and two peoples.
The Party General Secretary said he highly appreciated the close and effective cooperation between the legislative bodies of Việt Nam and Laos, hoping that the two bodies and their committees will strengthen cooperation and exchange of experience, as well as coordination in inspecting and supervising the two governments’ implementation of the agreed cooperative programs.
The two sides should step up information exchange and closely coordinate in international activities, he said.
Ms. Pany Yathotu thanked Việt Nam’s great, valuable and effective assistance to Laos. She confirmed that the Lao Party, State, National Assembly and people will spare no effort to reinforce the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.
Libyan Transition Must Be Rooted in Rule of Law For Immediate Release: August 24, 2011
Share Washington, DC – While rebel control of Tripoli is not yet complete, Human Rights First welcomes and echoes the
Obama Administration’s calls for the Libyan Transitional National Council to respect the rights of all citizens during
the transition after the collapse of the Gadhafi regime. Human Rights First also urges President Obama to make clear
that the United States also wishes to see respect for international law.
“Adhering to international standards when holding Gadhafi regime members to account for their alleged abuses will
help ensure that Libya starts this next chapter in its national history on the right path,” said Human Rights First’s
Julia Fromholz.
While the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Muammar Gadhafi, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, and
Abdullah al-Senussi in June 2011, the Transitional National Council has indicated that it may prefer to try those
regime members in Libya. If the Council seeks to set up trials for those regime members, the International Criminal
Court Pre-Trial Chamber has the responsibility under Article 17 of the Rome Statute to decide whether Libyan
tribunals would meet international standards.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland’s recent remarks noting that the Transitional National Council must
ensure that “international standards of justice” are maintained in the process of holding accountable those with
blood on their hands. Human Rights First notes that the first step in ensuring international standards of justice is to
ensure that the rules of the International Criminal Court are followed. “Until the Transitional National Council seeks that decision from the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber, and while that decision
is being made, any captured indictees must be held in humane conditions,” stated Fromholz. “If the Transitional
National Council cannot guarantee their safety and humane treatment, they should be detained in the Hague.”
Fromholz concluded, “No matter where the current ICC indictees are tried, the Transitional National Council will have
to ensure fair trials for all those who allegedly committed crimes but have not been indicted. Seeing just and fair
trials of regime members from the top down in Libya would help instill broad respect for the rule of law after
