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CU VICE-PRESIDENT KY ANSWERING REPORTERS' QUESTIONS, WITH HELP OF INTERPRETER, AT ORLY 80
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Initials


NB: KY SPEAKS IN VIETNAMESE, INTERPRETER TRANSLATES INTO ENGLISH AND COMMENTATOR OVERLAYS IN FRENCH.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: VICE PRESIDENT NGUYEN CAO KY SOUTH VIETNAM ARRIVED IN PARIS TODAY FROM SAIGON AND TOLD REPORTERS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S AIR FORCE MAY RESUME BOMBING OF THE NORTH IF THE VIET CONG CONTINUED THEIR SHELLING OF THE SOUTH.

VICE PRESIDENT KY IS REPORTED TO HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD HIS RETURN TO PARIS SO AS TO DISCUSS THE VIETNAM SITUATION WITH PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON, WHEN THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 28).

MR KY, WHO SUPERVISES AND COORDINATES THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE DELEGATION TO THE PARIS PEACE TALKS SAID: "WE SHALL RAISE THE SHELLING PROBLEM AT THURSDAY'S MEETING HERE....IN SAIGON I HAVE SAID THAT WE ON THE ALLIED SIDE HAVE UP TO NOW SHOWN A MAXIMUM OF GOODWILL. WE HAVE DE-ESCALATED THE WAR. THE TOTAL CESSATION OF THE BOMBING AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM IS ONE GOOD EXAMPLE IN THE DE-ESCALATION....BUT IF THE COMMUNISTS CONTINUE THEIR ATTACKS AND SHELLING ON THE POPULATION, I WILL SUGGEST TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM TO ORDER THE VIETNAMESE AIR FORCE TO RESUME BOMBING NORTH VIETNAM."
MR KY, A FORMER FIGHTER PILOT AND COMMANDER OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE AIR FORCE, WAS ASKED WHETHER THE U.S. AIR FORCE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE RESUMPTION OF THE BOMBING - HE REPLIED: "SO FAR, I AM THINKING ONLY IN TERMS OF THE VIETNAMESE AIR FORCE. I DO NOT KNOW ANY MORE."