North Vietnam's chief negotiator, Xuan Thuy, arrived in Paris on Monday (10 July) for the resumption of the Vietnam Peace Talks on Thursday (13 July).

There has been speculation in the United States of an early break-through in the talks, that could lead to an end to the war. But, upon arrival Mr Thuy said nothing to support such hopes other than his statement that "we will consider any new proposals the United States has to offer."
Mr Thuy said it was pressure from peoples of many countries that caused the U.S. to return to the peace talks. Mr Thuy's comments were made in Vietnamese, and then translated into French. The English text follows:
Mr Thuy, who returned to Paris after two months of consultations with his government, denounced president Nixon's "inhuman war crimes", including the intensive bombing of North Vietnam and its dyke system and the blockade of Haiphong Harbour and the coastline.

He insisted that the Viet cong's seven-point peace plan, submitted to the conference a year ago, was still the basis for a solution of the Vietnam conflict.

The talks are resuming on Thursday after the United States boycott of more than two months.

SYNOPSIS: North Vietnam' chief negotiator Xuan Thuy arrived back in Paris on Monday after two-months of consultations with his government. The Vietnam Peace Talks will resume on Thursday after a United States boycott of more than two months, and amid U.S. hopes that serious negotiations could lead to an end of the war.

Mr Thuy talked to newsmen at the airport about his return, and the resumption of the Peace Talks.

He said that it was the demands from the peoples of the world that had forced the United States to resume the talks in Paris...he did not give any support to the speculation that the new talks might lead to a break-through. He only said that all new proposals from the U.S. would be considered.

Mr Thuy's remarks were translated into French for the benefit of newsmen... In his remarks Mr Thuy again denounced what he called President Nixon's "inhuman war crimes". he said that these included the intensive bombing of North Vietnam and its dyke system and the blockade of Haiphong Harbour and the coastline....He insisted that the Viet Cong's seven-point peace plan, first submitted last year, was still the basis for a solution of the Vietnam conflict.