Brussels, 22/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - In negotiations currently taking place on a new partnership and cooperation agreement with Vietnam, the European Commission and Council must bring pressure to bear on the Hanoi authorities to put an end to systematic violations of democracy and human rights in the country, and this before the new agreement is definitively decided. That is what the European Parliament called for in adopting a resolution (by the very wide majority of 479 votes to 21, with 4 abstentions) in Strasbourg on 22 October. MEPs also called on the Vietnamese government immediately to release all political and religious prisoners, to authorise independent religious organisations to be able freely to conduct their activities, to end its censorship and control over national media (including internet and electronic communications) and to permit the publication of private, independent newspapers and magazines. The EP also called on Vietnam to cooperate actively with United Nations human rights bodies and to grant UN special reporters free access to all regions of the country. (H.B./transl.rt)