HANOI, Oct 14 (Reuters) – The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is poised to sign a free trade agreement with Vietnam on Sunday, a significant step following years of halted discussions that were revitalized last year amid increased global tensions over US tariffs.
Negotiations between Vietnam and the EFTA, which comprises Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, concluded in July after initiating in 2012. The signing in Hanoi will be attended by Swiss Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, who is currently visiting Asia, according to a spokesperson for his ministry.
The agreement’s signing occurs against the backdrop of Vietnam’s recent detention of three activists, including a Norwegian national, on charges related to terrorism. This situation has prompted Norway to express its intention to address the matter with Vietnamese officials during the signing ceremony. Human rights organizations assert that the activists were abducted in Cambodia, a claim denied by Cambodian authorities.
The Norwegian foreign ministry confirmed that State Secretary Astrid Bergmal will participate in the signing and will bring up the case of Nguyen Duc Thuan, the detained Norwegian citizen. The ministry described this issue as a high priority, acknowledging the public concern it has raised in Norway.
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Vietnamese authorities reported the detention of Nguyen Duc Thuan along with Australian citizen Ho Pham Hiep Huy and Vietnamese national Thai Cong Truong Son on September 18, stating they were attempting to illegally cross the border from Cambodia into Vietnam. The Vietnamese authorities have linked the trio to Viet Tan, a US-based pro-democracy group designated as a terrorist organization by the Vietnamese government.
The ministry of public security indicated that the individuals were arrested while crossing the border. However, Viet Tan maintains that the activists were forcibly taken from Cambodia. Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior has stated it has no records of the arrests or individuals departing the country.
In light of these developments, human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have called for the immediate release of the three activists, with many organizations condemning their alleged abduction and ongoing detention.
As the signing ceremony approaches, Vietnam’s foreign ministry has not yet replied to requests for comments regarding the signing or the activists’ situation.
