Vietnam will not extend Russian use of Cam Ranh Bay: Tass

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 30, 2001

MOSCOW, July 23 Kyodo

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam has reaffirmed that Hanoi will not extend the Russian navy's use of the strategic Cam Ranh base in southern Vietnam after the present agreement runs out in 2004, the Russian news agency Itar-Tass said Monday.

Cam said the Vietnamese government has no plans to sign an agreement with any other country to lease Cam Ranh Bay for military use and will turn the port facilities for social and economic development.

The Russian navy has had access to the harbor since 1979 based on an agreement between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union.

In June this year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai told Kyodo News in an interview during his visit to Japan that Hanoi did not plan to extend leases for foreign countries to use the harbor as a naval base.