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Issue 15 : Jul/Sep 2000 |
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The next round of discussions in the long running talks on establishing direct flights between the US and Vietnam are due to take place at the end of June 2000. The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) are due to meet with the US Federal Aviation Authority on 25 June. Talks in March made some progress when an agreement was signed to allow code-sharing, which would enable American and Vietnamese carriers to establish offices and sell tickets for flights to each other's countries, as well as provide other flight-related services. While the CAAV is pushing for its aircraft to be allowed to fly to at least 10 destinations in the US, American negotiators are only interested in flying to three Vietnamese destinations so Vietnam should be limited to three US destinations. Four US carriers, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines, are reportedly interested in scheduling direct flights to Vietnam. With an appropriate deal, US carriers believe they could serve up to 1.4 million Vietnamese-Americans every year.
Environmental victory for Tram Chim
In a rare environmental victory local authorities have halted the digging of six canals at Tram Chim National Park in Vietnam's Dong Thap province. After being bombarded by letters of protest from international environmental organizations, government bodies and concerned individuals, work on the canals designed as fire breaks came to an halt.Tram Chim National Park contains the last unspoiled natural habitat in the Plain of Reeds, which once extended right across the Mekong Delta. The park is best-known for its wintering population of endangered Sarus Cranes which arrive in January to feed on wild rice before departing for their breeding grounds at the end of April. |
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