Vietnam, U.S. have 'bridged river of pain'
HANOI - America's first post-war ambassador to Vietnam,
who steps down next month, believes the two countries have essentially
succeeded during his tenure in bridging ``a river of pain'' that once
divided them.
Vietnam War veteran Douglas ``Pete'' Peterson told Reuters the past
four years of relations between the former foes could be seen as a
``psychological success.''
``Both peoples, in America and Vietnam, have come to appreciate each
other and understand each other better,'' he said in an interview. ``And
that warmth of relationship now has allowed the two nations to
essentially heal the past.''
Peterson, who spoke late last week, recalled that the aim he had stated
on arriving to take up his post in May 1997 had been to ``bridge the
river of pain that both our countries suffered.''
``Now in 2001, I think we can sit back and say we're pretty close to a
normal relationship and that is something I am very proud to have been
part of.''
Peterson, 65, has announced he will resign his post effective July 15. He
is considering running for the Florida governorship held by Jeb Bush,
brother of the U.S. president.
The most visible high point of Peterson's tenure in Vietnam was a
reconciliation visit by U.S. President Bill Clinton last November, the first
by a U.S. leader since the war.
But the Clinton appointee said he considered the biggest single event to
have been the signing last year of a bilateral trade agreement, which is in
the U.S. Congress for ratification.
``There is no doubt in my mind that that agreement will serve to lead our
two nations in an economic relationship for the next several decades,''
he said.
The agreement, once ratified, will normalize trade ties with Vietnam. It
follows the lifting of a long-standing trade embargo in 1994 and the
establishment of diplomatic ties a year later.
Remarkable choice
Peterson was a remarkable choice as the first U.S. ambassador to
Vietnam since the war in the country ended in 1975 with a communist
victory over U.S.-backed South Vietnam.
As an air force pilot, he flew 67 missions during the war. He was
eventually shot down in September 1966 and spent the next
six-and-a-half years in the notorious ``Hanoi Hilton'' jail.
He admitted that when he first returned to Hanoi in 1991, his feelings
were ``were guarded, very much guarded.''
A decade on, and after four years as ambassador, he said he felt sad to
be leaving.
``I've invested more than four years of my life here trying to renew a
relationship that was rather shattered,'' he said.
``I've come to enjoy the Vietnamese people and very much enjoy
traveling throughout the country. And there are still things I would like to
do, but there comes a time when one must make a decision to start new
endeavors and that is what my wife and I have started to do.''
A three-time Florida congressman before taking up his ambassadorial
role, Peterson said he was still weighing up the possibility of running next
year for the governorship of his home state held by Jeb Bush.
``If everything is reasonable and I feel comfortable about it and I can
add value to the race and I can lead the state in the way I would like to,
then I would give it serious consideration,'' he said.
Hanoi has praised Peterson's work in helping to normalize relations and
highlighted his role in pushing through the trade agreement.
Peterson said he had no inkling as to who might replace him in Vietnam.
Some news reports have predicted the Bush administration will
nominate Raymond Burghardt, a veteran foreign service officer who is
currently director of the American Institute in Taiwan.
Burghardt's office is Washington's de facto embassy in Taiwan in the
absence of formal diplomatic ties.
By David Brunnstrom - Reuters - June 18, 2001.
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