Brussels, 1 October 2003

Dear Mr. Busdachin,

Thank you for your letter of 3 September to President Prodi, to which he has asked me to reply.

As you are aware, the Commission attaches great importance to the safeguarding of the rights of minorities to their own cultural identity. The rights of minorities are enshrined in a number of international instruments including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 27). In addition, the EU Charter of fundamental rights, which guides the European Commission external action in this field, makes clear that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and that cultural, religious and linguistic diversity should be respected.

Thus, the rights of ethnic minorities and other human rights issues are closely followed by the Commission and can, if deemed necessary, be raised through the EU’s bilateral political dialogue with its dialogue partners.

The EC Delegation in Vietnam will therefore continue to monitor these questions in order to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all ethnic minorities are taken into consideration by the Government of Vietnam.

Pierre Amilhat
Head of Unit