2002 Press Releases
U.S., Vietnam Sign Agreement on Joint Agent Orange/Dioxin Research March 10, 2002
Memorandum
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE MARCH 10, 2002
The
U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is pleased to
report on the excellent US-Vietnam scientific conference on Human
Health and Environmental Effects of Agent Orange/Dioxin held March 3-6
in Hanoi and the strengthening of the cooperative efforts between the
U.S. and Vietnam. As a result of this conference and further
discussions, Dr. Anne Sassaman, Director of the NIEHS Division of
Extramural Research and Training, and Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sinh, General
Director of The National Environmental Agency of Vietnam, today signed
a document outlining the framework for research on human health and the
environmental effects of Agent Orange/dioxin. The memorandum of understanding
specifies activities that will guide our future joint research
collaborations. Joint discussions will continue to further establish
the process and the guidelines that will facilitate the continuing
exchange.
"This agreement and the scientific conference that
preceded it mark a new step forward in our relations with Vietnam. It
is too soon to predict what the eventual benefits will be, but it is
certain that Americans and Vietnamese working together in pursuit of a
common interest can achieve a great deal, as we have shown once again
today. The scientists from both countries who hammered out this
agreement deserve a great deal of credit for keeping their common goal
clearly in focus as they worked to craft a document in which they can
all take pride," said U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Raymond Burghardt.
"This
framework for collaboration is an important step forward," said Dr.
Sassaman. "The real difficulties lie ahead; agreeing to do the research
is the easy part. The more difficult task will be to develop research
studies that are definitive and address the underlying causes of
disease in Vietnam. "
The National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences, a part of the federal National Institutes of Health,
has been the lead U.S. government agency in establishing for the U.S. a
cooperative research program on Agent Orange/dioxin with the Vietnamese
government agencies. Dr. Christopher Portier, Director of NIEHS'
Environmental Toxicology Program, chaired the U.S. organizing committee
for the March 3-6 joint scientific conference. This conference was one
of two projects agreed upon at the last US-Vietnamese government
meeting in Hanoi in July 2001.
NIEHS CONTACT
BILL GRIGG
301 402-3378
BETHESDA, MARYLAND USA
grigg@niehs.nih.gov
Ambassador
