LETTER OF THANKS TO OLIVIER DUPUIS BY VO VAN AI, INTERNATIONAL SPOKESMAN OF THE UBCV

The Honourable Olivier Dupuis MEP,
European Parliament,
Brussels
Paris, 6th January 2004

Dear Olivier,
I have great pleasure in forwarding to you this letter from the Patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang thanking you for supporting the EP Resolution on Religious Freedom in Vietnam adopted on 20th November 2003. This letter was sent clandestinely from the Nguyen Thieu Monastery in Vietnam at great personal risk, and we are delighted that it reached us safe and sound. Because of the difficulties in communication, this is a general letter to all MEPs and members of the US Congress who supported the two Resolutions. However, I kept the UBCV leadership informed of your own personal involvement, and they are well aware that the EP Resolution would never have been passed without your tireless efforts and determination.

May I also take this opportunity to add my personal warm thanks for your fraternal support for the movement for human rights, freedom of conscience and democracy in Vietnam. I know you will be facing many new challenges in the New Year, but sometimes it is necessary to take a leap into the void. I feel sure that 2004 will be a year of happiness and success for you, whatever path you chose to take.
With warm regards,
Vo Van Ai
Director, I.B.I.B.
International Spokesman, UBCV

c.c. Letter from the Most Venerable Thich Huyen Quang

English translation by I.B.I.B.