Vietnam rejects news of

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Vietnam yesterday denied the fact that Vietnam is being asked for trade sanctions on rhinos.

Earlier, at the 16th member countries meeting (CITES) (Cop16) took place in Bangkok, Thailand from March 3 to 14, a number of non-governmental organizations provided many evidence of trade. and using rhino horn in Vietnam. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) criticizes Vietnam as the largest consumer of rhino horn, while there is no action to address this issue. The EIA also proposed CITES and the US to impose sanctions on Vietnam, including prohibiting the import and export of rhino species.

However, at the meeting to report to the press yesterday, Mr. Do Quang Tung, Deputy Director in charge of CITES Management Authority of Vietnam, head of the delegation attending Cop16 Conference confirmed that the information of the EIA was not it's correct.

Many organizations believe that Vietnam is the main market for rhino horn consumption in South Africa. Organ
CITES Vietnam denies this information.On the picture is a black rhino on the grassland in South Africa.

"At the official rhino session, the countries and CITES secretariat members all acknowledge the efforts of Vietnam and do not make any official or warning proposals on trade sanctions with Vietnam" , Mr. Tung said.

"The US also did not mention the EIA's petition to the US on Vietnam's embargo," Tung added.

Also at the Conference, the Vietnamese delegation gave official information on Vietnam's enforcement efforts in protecting rhinos, resolutely opposed the incorrect judgment of EIA and some other non-governmental organizations. At the same time, Vietnam made difficulties in the implementation process and pledged to continue implementing actions to combat the illegal trade of rhino horn and wild species.

"Vietnam is the country that caught the most illegal rhino transport. From 2004 to now, 13 cases have been arrested with a total of 150kg of rhino horn, only 2 cases were arrested in early 2013" , Mr. Tung said. good

With that effort, the International CITES Secretariat and the Conference highly appreciated Vietnamese statements and pledged to seek financial support for implementation in our country.

Before the news that Vietnamese people often cut rhinos to drink to cure cancer, Mr. Tung said that this is unlikely. Vietnam CITES representative analyzed, the number of rhinos of South Africa was shot last year was 6,500, each calculated from 5 to 7 scales of horns, so there are about 3 to 4 tons of horns. If any Vietnamese person grinds to drink, we have a number of rhinos for cancer patients - about 200,000 in Vietnam.

On the other hand, Mr. Tung said, the cost of one rhino horn according to information of some organizations is 50,000 USD, Vietnam is very unlikely to be able to pay with such a large number of rhinos.

Mr. Tung added that during the Conference, delegates discussed and approved about 79 agenda with 89 proposals to amend, supplement, build new Decisions, Resolutions on real CITES tests, reports of committees and thematic reports; review and vote on 71 proposals on adjustment and supplementation of Appendixes of CITES. In addition, on the sidelines of the conference, there were more than 60 seminars and seminars on management, conservation, trade and control of some endangered species.