EU to review Vietnamese aid

Vietnam denies oppressing religious dissidents

By Clare Arthurs BBC Hanoi correspondent

Vietnam could face renewed pressure from the European Union over its progress on human rights, following Hanoi's refusal to allow a visiting delegation from the EU parliament to meet with religious dissidents.

The head of the delegation, Hartmut Nassauer, says it will return to Brussels to discuss EU spending in Vietnam in the context of human rights, law and the protection of Vietnam's minority groups.

Vietnam's foreign ministry has said it does not expect the incident to damage relations with the Europeans.

Vietnam says it does not have dissidents, but law-breakers who threaten national unity.

And it says it was impossible for the EU delegation to meet Thich Quan Do, a leader of a banned Buddhist group, because he is under investigation.

Snub

The delegation says it is not satisfied with Hanoi's response, and its leader, Mr Nassauer, says the EU budget of more than a $100m gives the parliament an opportunity to put pressure on Vietnam.

After failing to meet dissident leaders the delegation refused a government offer to meet an authorised Buddhist leader.

It did meet with members of Vietnam's parliament, as part of an Asian parliamentary summit which has been under way all week.

The Europeans say they insisted on discussing human rights, and left behind a list of six prisoners of particular concern.

Progress made

Mr Nassauer says the delegation does believe Vietnam has made some progress on freedoms, as well as on political and economic development.

He stresses there is a role for continuing dialogue with Vietnam, and Hanoi has been invited to send a delegation to Brussels.

There were some other issues raised too - Mr Nassauer says EU trade barriers were discussed and the delegation has offered its support to the idea of an Asian parliament to promote democracy.

That idea is unlikely to receive overwhelming regional support. There are several regimes who argue that their first priorities are economic progress, sustainable development and poverty reduction.