At the regular press conference of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of June 25, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang answered questions about the fact that on June 16, a court in France opened a cassation hearing on the lawsuit of Ms. Tran To Nga.
Ms. Pham Thu Hang shared: "Although the war has passed, the heavy consequences still deeply impact Vietnam and the Vietnamese people, including the extremely long-term and serious consequences for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin. Once again, we support the fact that Agent Orange/dioxin victims request chemical companies that produced and supplied Agent Orange/dioxin to the US during the war in Vietnam to be responsible for overcoming the consequences caused.
Ms. Tran To Nga - a French-Vietnamese citizen - has sued 14 US chemical corporations related to Agent Orange/dioxin used in the war in Vietnam.
On June 16, in Paris, the French Court of Cassation opened a cassation hearing for Ms. Tran To Nga's lawsuit against 14 US chemical corporations related to Agent Orange/dioxin. The trial attracted hundreds of attendees, including Vietnamese people in France, French friends and supporters from many European countries. Inside the courtroom of the French court, hundreds of people attended, making the courtroom packed. The court had to arrange more seats for those present.
The focus of this review hearing is not to immediately try compensation liability but to see if US chemical companies can continue to cite jurisdiction immunity to avoid being tried in France.
The French Court of Cassation's ruling is expected to be announced after about 4 weeks.
