U.S. envoy to Hanoi arrives in April

U.S. envoy to Hanoi arrives in April

HANOI (AFP): Douglas "Pete" Peterson is likely to be confirmed
as the first ambassador to Vietnam this week and will arrive in
Hanoi by April 1, a United States embassy official here said on
yesterday.

Desaix Anderson, U.S. charge d'affaires, told U.S. businessmen
at a local American Chamber of Commerce luncheon that Peterson
was eager to get to Vietnam and start work.

Peterson, 61, was held prisoner by North Vietnam for more than
six years after his Air Force jet was shot down during the
Vietnam war.

Vietnam has unofficially chosen Le Van Bang to become the
first Vietnamese ambassador to Washington where he is currently
Vietnam's charge d'affaires.