10 June 1993
SUBJECT: Declassification of POW/MIA Records In accordance with my Memorial Day Announcement of May 31, 1993, all executive agencies and departments are directed to complete by Veterans Day, November 11, 1993, their review, declassification and release of all relevant documents, files pertaining to American POW's and MIA's missing in Southeast Asia in accordance with Executive Order 12812. Signed William J. Clinton
Statement by Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers:
10 November 1993Last Memorial Day, President Clinton pledged to the American people that the US Government would complete by Veterans Day this year the review and declassification of all documents relating to the Vietnam War and American POW/MIA's in Southeast Asia. That work has been completed by relevant U.S. Government agencies -- the Departments of State and Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Council -- in accordance with orders to make these documents publicly available, with a few specific exceptions.
In all, approximately 1.7 million pages of documents were reviewed, declassified and approved for release. Among other subjects, the documents cover individuals held as prisoners or missing in action, U.S. policies pertaining to POW and MIA issues, and U.S. negotiations with Vietnam and Laos at the Paris Peace talks. Those talks involved the release of known POWs and pressed for a full accounting for personnel missing in action in Indochina during the hostilities. The small proportion of documents not declassified pertain to sensitive foreign policy discussions and currently active negotiations; intelligence sources and methods; ongoing clandestine operations; and privacy issues related to returnees and the families of POWs and MIAs. Arrangements are being made to sort and index the released documents to make them more convenient for public use. We remain committed to the review, declassification, and public release of newly obtained information at the earliest possible time. (end text) NNNN