Bye Bye AMB Raymond F. Burghardt

AMB came back Saigon (HCMC) to say good-bye to American and Vietnamese business community yesterday. It is nice to hear from a diplomat who has been dedicating his career in East Asia Pacific nearly half of his life. AMB Burghardt reviewed current relationship between America and Vietnam and he is positive about future diplomatic relations of the two countries. He showed an example about the U.S. Congress' approval for his ambassadorship and his predecessor, AMB Peter Peterson. He said, AMB Peter Peterson had to wait several months (9 months, inauditable) to get his job as the first U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam since 1975. But, today, there may be nobody in the U.S. Congress posts that question when giving approval for the position. However, he still sees some sensitive issues that can give a negative impact on the diplomatic relations between the U.S and Vietnam. For instance, Vietnamese American community in the U.S. may have certain impacts on U.S. senators' decisions for their issues and concerns in Vietnam, such as human rights and religious freedom. "Today foreign policy may not decide by governments but it may be influenced by third parties such as NGOs, volunteer groups or business community." He added. "If you had three more years in Vietnam, what would you do?" one asked. AMB Burghardt said he would bring more big American companies to Vietnam, work out U.S.-VN adoption negotiation, do more on culture and arts exchange programs and importantly, he would work tirelessly on law enforcement for Vietnam... Good bye AMB Raymond Burghardt, we know you love Saigon. Welcome back at anytime!