Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang today commented on the French Court of Cassation opening a cassation hearing on 16/6. The hearing concerns the lawsuit filed by Tran To Nga against 14 US chemical corporations over Agent Orange/dioxin.

"The war has passed, but its severe consequences still deeply affect Vietnam and its people, including long-lasting, serious consequences for Agent Orange/dioxin victims," Hang stated.

Tran To Nga (center) and supporters of the Agent Orange/dioxin lawsuit. *Photo: VNA*

The spokesperson affirmed Vietnam supports Agent Orange/dioxin victims in demanding that chemical companies which produced and supplied Agent Orange/dioxin to the US during the Vietnam War take responsibility for rectifying the consequences they caused.

According to VTV, the French Court of Cassation opened a cassation hearing in the case. The hearing's focus is not to immediately rule on compensation liability, but to determine if US chemical companies can continue to invoke jurisdictional immunity to avoid trial in France.

A positive development at the court session was the prosecutor's view favoring the annulment of the appellate court's decision. If the French court accepts this, the lawsuit could return to lower courts for a deeper review of the case's merits.

The ruling by the French Court of Cassation is expected to be announced in about 4 weeks.

Ngoc Anh