Continuing the agenda of the Fifth Session, on the morning of June 23, the National Assembly held a plenary session in the assembly hall to discuss the draft Law on Management and Protection of National Defense Facilities and Military Zones.

In explaining and clarifying some issues raised by National Assembly deputies at the session, General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense, on behalf of the drafting agency, respectfully thanked the National Assembly deputies for their heartfelt and responsible opinions discussed in the working groups and in the plenary session today; and stated that the Ministry of National Defense will fully incorporate the contributions of the National Assembly deputies, continue to research and finalize the draft law to ensure consistency and synchronization with the legal system, creating conditions for socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security," General Phan Van Giang emphasized.

General Phan Van Giang explains and clarifies some issues raised by National Assembly deputies regarding the draft Law on Management and Protection of National Defense Facilities and Military Zones. Photo: Tuan Huy

Responding to comments from National Assembly deputies regarding the classification and grouping of national defense facilities and military zones, General Phan Van Giang emphasized: The classification and grouping of national defense facilities and military zones is necessary and very important. The purpose of this classification and grouping is to provide a basis for determining the scope of protection, requirements, content of management and protection, and the organizational regime and measures for managing and protecting each type of national defense facility and military zone.

On the other hand, classification and grouping also serve as a basis for developing regulations and policies for those involved in the management and protection of national defense facilities and military zones.

Elaborating further on the classification and grouping of defense facilities and military zones, General Phan Van Giang stated: Defense facilities and military zones are classified according to their function, tasks, and purpose of use (including four types: A, B, C, and D) and grouped according to their importance and management and protection requirements (including special group, group one, group two, and group three).

The classification of defense facilities and military zones in the draft law inherits, develops, and supplements the regulations in Government Decree No. 04 dated January 16, 1995, promulgating the regulations on the protection of defense facilities and military zones, ensuring comprehensiveness, meeting the requirements of management and protection work, and conforming to the characteristics and nature of each type of group.

"The assignment to the Government to specify the types and categories of national defense projects and military zones is consistent with the unique characteristics and meets the requirements for protecting state secrets as stipulated by law," Minister Phan Van Giang said, adding that, taking into account the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the drafting agency will continue to research, review, and adjust the content, classification, and grouping in a way that is clearer and more coherent while still ensuring the preservation of state secrets.

Basis for determining the scope of protection for national defense facilities and military zones.

Clarifying the definition of the scope of protection for national defense facilities and military zones, Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized that this is one of the fundamental and very important issues.

"Determining the scope of protection for national defense facilities and military zones involves defining each component, including restricted areas, safety zone protection areas (if any), and the draft law stipulates this content in Article 16," Minister Phan Van Giang said.

Minister Phan Van Giang stated that the basis for determining the scope of protection is based on the characteristics of the tasks assigned to each type of national defense facility and military zone, such as defensive operations, protecting the Fatherland, training, exercises for research and testing, production, storage, repair, and destruction of weapons and equipment, in order to determine the scope of protection for each type of task.

On the other hand, depending on the level of importance and management requirements, defense facilities and military zones are managed and protected at different levels according to each group to determine the appropriate scope of protection; depending on the characteristics and conditions of the terrain and especially the conditions of the residential area...

Overview of the meeting.

Ensuring the safety and confidentiality of defense facilities and military zones.

Minister Phan Van Giang also emphasized that, in order to ensure the safety and confidentiality of national defense facilities and military zones, some activities within the protected areas will be restricted or prohibited. These restrictions are currently stipulated in sub-legal documents, and therefore need to be included in the draft law to ensure compliance with the provisions of the 2013 Constitution.

Further elaborating on the management of activities within the protected areas of national defense facilities and military zones, Minister Phan Van Giang emphasized that this is to ensure the safety and confidentiality of national defense facilities and military zones; to guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of organizations, households, and individuals; to create conditions for people to proactively engage in production, business, and daily life activities within the protected areas; and to ensure transparency, facilitating socio-economic development and strengthening national defense and security.

Minister Phan Van Giang reiterated that, based on the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the drafting agency will continue to research and coordinate with National Assembly agencies to review and revise the draft law to ensure it meets the requirements for managing and protecting national defense facilities and military zones, while also safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals within the protected areas of national defense facilities and military zones.

GRASSLAND