Lao Deputy Prime Minister Confirms Plans for Forum Conference in Vientiane

HE Somsevat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos sent a letter to the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD) on March 12 extending "warm greetings for the Lao New Year to INGOs who have worked in our country for development and mutual understanding."

He confirmed that the 10th conference of the Forum on Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam will be held in Vientiane June 19-21, 2001, observing, "this event marks the first occasion that our country has had to hold an international meeting focused on the work of INGOs and development in the region." (see page 22)

Addressing US NGOs in particular, the Minister noted, "that the histories of our two countries have been intertwined, sometimes tragically, for over a half century. For a decade during the US Secret Air War against Laos, our people suffered from the destruction and loss of lives from 3 million tons of bombs….We recognize and appreciate the post-war humanitarian assistance of INGOs for UXO work and for the rural development efforts in the disadvantaged and war-damaged areas of our country."

continued on page 7

In this issue:

Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
Business
Forum Conference Reports
Cuba
Resources
From the Editor
Profiles: Trickle Up, Heart to Heart, PeaceTrees, Oxfam America, Australian Volunteers

President Bush Asked to Implement Law to Allow Food and Medicine Sales to Cuba

A broad coalition of more than 100 leaders of US agriculture, ports, Cuban American groups, religious agencies, and medicine, along with former high level government leaders called upon President Bush on March 28^th to respect the intent of an overwhelming majority of the US Congress to open up food and medicine sales to Cuba.

"Last year's Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement law mandated that regulations interpreting the legislation be issued by February 26 of this year, and we are still waiting," Audrae Erickson of the American Farm Bureau Federation said.

Stephen Northrup, Executive Director of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association, noted, "We are deeply disturbed by reports that the regulations are likely to maintain existing US restrictions requiring end-use verification on the export of needed life-saving medical products to Cuba. Such an interpretation is clearly at odds with Congressional intent, and we strongly recommend that sales of medicine be permitted under the liberalized framework provided by the law."

Gary LaGrange, President of the Gulf Ports of the Americas Association, representing 29 US ports, commented, "We are confident that President Bush will remember how important sales to Cuba are to Gulf Coast farmers and ports and that his regulations when issued will reflect the overwhelming bipartisan consensus in Congress that food and medicine should not be used as weapons."

The President of the Mississippi Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association, Lloyd Moore, added, "Black farmers and small farm communities across the South have borne the brunt of the embargo since it shut-down our natural market of Cuba 40 years ago. We hope that the Bush Administration will allow Americans who need it most to access a piece of the $1 billion annual Cuban food market.