– having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Vietnam signed on 27 June 2012 and to the EU-Vietnam human rights dialogue held twice a year between the EU and the government of Vietnam,
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Vietnam acceded in 1982,
– having regard to the Universal Periodic Review Outcome on Vietnam by the UN Human Rights Council of 24 September 2009,
– having regard to report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression to the 14th Session of the Human Rights Council in April 2010,
– having regard to the Statement by the Spokesperson of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on the sentencing of bloggers in Vietnam of 24 September 2012, Continue reading