LOS ANGELES : War Issues Linked to Sister Status for Ho Chi Minh City
The Los Angeles City Council directed one of its committees Tuesday to study a proposal for establishing a sister city relationship with Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon.
Some Vietnam veterans groups have called the move premature, saying the Communist government still must account for soldiers and airmen missing in action and taken prisoners of war.
Mayor Richard Riordan, who did not propose the measure as previously reported, said he supports it only if the POW and MIA issues are resolved and diplomatic relations are restored.
The proposal’s sponsor, Councilman Richard Alatorre, said “there are critical issues that our government is addressing, such as our POWs and MIAs, and I maintain that these must be resolved in order for us to move ahead and form a new relationship with the people of Vietnam.”
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