Directive No. 20/2000/CT-TTg on strengthening guidance and implementation of Decree No. 19/CP dated March 12, 1994 of the Government on defense work in the new situation.

DIRECTIVE

Regarding Strengthening Guidance and Implementation of Decree No. 19/CPdated March 12, 1994 of the Government on National Defense Work in the New Situation

In recent years, ministries, sectors, and localities have thoroughly grasped and implemented Decree No. 19/CP dated March 12, 1994 of the Government on national defense work, achieving significant initial results: the people's national defense cause and the people's security posture have been consolidated; political stability and social order and safety have been maintained, creating a stable environment for industrialization and modernization of the country. However, there are still some shortcomings in implementing Decree No. 19/CP of the Government that need to be addressed: the people's national defense posture is not strong enough and not firmly established; the quality of the Self-Defense Force and the reserve mobilization force is still weak; the preparation for military mobilization has not yet become routine; the effectiveness of state management in national defense, and the advisory capacity of local military agencies and sectors are still limited.

To continue implementing Decree No. 19/CP dated March 12, 1994 of the Government more effectively, and to fulfill the national defense tasks in the coming time, the Prime Minister requests ministries, sectors, and localities to strengthen leadership, guidance, and implementation of the following contents:

1. Enhancing the quality and effectiveness of national defense education, creating a strong and wide-ranging change in understanding and responsibility among cadres at all levels and the entire population regarding the task of building a solid people's national defense system, meeting the requirements of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam in all situations:

It is necessary to deeply educate and instill the viewpoints, guidelines of the Party, policies, and strategies of the State on building a people's national defense system to cadres at all levels, sectors, and the younger generation. Combining concentrated education in classes with regular education through various forms, ensuring that all cadres, party members at all levels, sectors, and the people have a correct and comprehensive understanding of the construction and consolidation of the people's national defense system. Integrating national defense and security with economic development, closely coordinating national defense, security, and foreign affairs activities; recognizing the plots and tactics of hostile forces. From this, enhancing the spirit of patriotism, love for socialism, raising revolutionary vigilance awareness, clearly defining responsibilities, especially those of the cadre contingent. Fulfilling national defense tasks within the scope of each individual and organization, resolutely struggling to defeat the "peaceful evolution" subversion strategy of hostile forces, protecting the Party, protecting the socialist regime, firmly safeguarding independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and national interests.

2. Vigorously building a comprehensive people's national defense posture combined with a people's security posture, closely integrating economic and social development with national defense and security consolidation during the process of accelerating industrialization and modernization of the country:

Strengthening the construction of provinces and cities into solid defensive areas, serving as the foundation of the people's national defense and security postures, prioritizing comprehensive strength-building. Concentrating on guiding the construction of national defense and security postures, particularly along borderlines, seas, islands, and key inland areas. Grasping the situation firmly, proactively detecting and effectively countering the sabotage plots of the enemy, preventing surprise attacks in all situations. Resolving well the security situation at the grassroots level, complaints, accusations, and internal conflicts, especially hotspots; promptly and effectively handling activities exploiting ethnic and religious issues to divide the national solidarity and undermine the socialist regime.

Ministries, sectors, and localities need to grasp and effectively implement the combination of economic and social development with national defense and security consolidation. Completing Plan A and implementing detailed Plan B of each sector and level, primarily for central ministries and sectors. All levels, sectors, and localities must demonstrate a close integration between economic development and national defense in the construction and implementation of long-term and short-term projects, joint ventures, industrial zones, export processing zones, in adjusting population distribution, constructing and consolidating ports, airports, water and land transportation routes, focusing on developing rural, mountainous, remote, and far-flung areas' transportation. Building and developing economic-national defense models in specific areas. Effectively implementing social policies in conjunction with military rear support policies... Prioritizing the construction of potential and sources of assurance to meet national defense needs in war for the protection of the Fatherland.

3. Building and enhancing overall strength, creating new qualitative and combat strength developments for local armed forces:

Ministries, sectors, and localities must pay attention to building and enhancing overall combat strength. Building local military agencies, specialized and part-time personnel responsible for national defense work in ministries and sectors with high quality, capable of advising leaders and commanders in implementing national defense work in the new period.

Building local troops with sufficient quantity and quality. Organizing training for each target group according to the prescribed content and program closely aligned with the situation and mission of the operational area, suitable to the strengths and combat methods of each force.

Enhancing the overall quality of the Self-Defense Force in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance on the Self-Defense Force, especially political quality. Maintaining appropriate numbers, organizational scale, and activity methods for each region and locality. Enhancing political education and military training to ensure political security and social order and safety, truly becoming the core force in disaster prevention and control at the grassroots level.

Maintain training and strictly manage reserve forces, reservists, and technical equipment. Build a cadre of reserve officers to ensure sufficient quantity and quality. Strictly implement mobilization plans, step-by-step training exercises to enhance the quality of the reserve officer cadre and reserve mobilization units. Effectively carry out annual conscription and military recruitment work, with preferential policies for remote areas, ethnic minority regions.

Organize mid-term reviews on the implementation of the Ordinance on Self-Defense Militia and the Ordinance on Reserve Mobilization Forces, draw lessons learned, determine directions and measures for leadership and guidance, and organize implementation. In 2001, conduct a five-year review at Military Regions and nationwide regarding the implementation of these two Ordinances.

Step-by-step improve the system of regulatory legal documents on defense work and strengthen state management over defense work.

The Ministry of National Defense needs to closely coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies to assist the Government in drafting, supplementing, and amending legal documents on defense work at ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, and localities to suit new circumstances.

Strengthen leadership, guidance, and management of defense work at ministries, sectors, and localities according to the division of responsibilities by the Government and directives from the Ministry of National Defense. Effectively implement the mechanism of "Party leadership, government administration, military advisory," as determined in Resolution No. 02/BCT dated July 30, 1987, of the Politburo.

Ministries, sectors, and localities need to strengthen supervision and inspection of the implementation of defense tasks according to their functions, duties, and authorities, promptly rectify and handle violations in accordance with the law.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government agencies, chairmen of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees must have specific plans and strictly implement them at their level. Report annually to the Prime Minister (through the Ministry of National Defense, within the time frame specified by the Ministry of National Defense) on the results of defense work.

The Ministry of National Defense is responsible for guiding, urging, and inspecting the implementation of this Directive and compiling reports to the Prime Minister on the results of its implementation.