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 2001HANOI00539 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ1311

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ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  DS-00    FBIE-00  
      UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   VCE-00   NSAE-00  TEST-00  
      DSCC-00  NFAT-00  SAS-00     /000W
                  ------------------CEFA3E  080246Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2182
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000539 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, EAP/RSP, EAP/EX 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL VM ASEAN ARF
SUBJECT:  DAS BOYCE MEETING WITH VICE FOREIGN MINISTER LE CONG PHUNG ON ARF AND ASEAN ISSUES 
 
¶1.   EAP DAS BOYCE MET FEBRUARY 28 WITH LE CONG PHUNG, VICE 
FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR ASEAN AFFAIRS, TO DISCUSS A 
RANGE OF ISSUES CONCERNING ASEAN AND THE ASEAN REGIONAL 
FORUM (ARF).  MFA ASEAN DEPARTMENT DEPUTY DIRECTORS PHAM HUU 
CHI AND TRAN NGOC AN, AND AMERICAS DEPARTMENT DEPUTY DOAN 
XUAN HUNG, SAT IN ON THE VIETNAMESE SIDE.  EAP/RSP DIRECTOR 
JUDITH STROTZ AND EAP/RSP OFFICER DEAN YAP ACCOMPANIED 
BOYCE. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00539  01 OF 03  080245Z 
 
INTERSESSIONAL SUPPORT GROUP PROCESS 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2.   DAS BOYCE SAID THAT IN THE U.S. VIEW THE ISG IS THE 
HEART OF THE ARF, WHERE THE INVISIBLE WORK GETS DONE THAT 
ENABLES VISIBLE PROGRESS.  THE U.S. IS CONCERNED OVER LACK 
OF PROGRESS AT THE SEOUL ISG, ALONG WITH OTHER ARF MEMBERS, 
AND PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING TO HELP PROMOTE ISG 
EFFECTIVENESS: 
 
     -- MOVEMENT TO TOPIC-BASED DISCUSSIONS ON REGIONAL 
SECURITY, RATHER THAN SET PIECES FROM THE VARIOUS 
DELEGATIONS.  OTHER ARF MEMBERS HAVE RESPONDED FAVORABLY TO 
THIS IDEA, AND IT WORKED WELL IN SINGAPORE.  THE U.S HOPES 
THE SEOUL ISG CAN BE ARRANGED THIS WAY. 
 
     -- CONTINUATION AT THE KL ISG OF THE VOLUNTARY 
BRIEFINGS HELD IN SEOUL.  THE U.S. WOULD LIKE TO BRIEF THE 
ARF ON CINCPAC ADMIRAL BLAIR'S PROPOSAL FOR ENHANCED 
REGIONAL COOPERATION. 
 
     -- INCREASED TIME FOR THE DEFENSE OFFICIALS' MEETING. 
 
     -- BEEFING UP SUBSTANTIVE EXPERTISE AT THE EXPERTS' 
GROUP MEETING (EGM) FOLLOWING THE KL ISG, RATHER THAN 
LETTING THIS FORUM BECOME BOGGED DOWN BY GENERALISTS. 
 
¶3.   PHUNG DEFENDED THE SEOUL ISG AND SAID VIETNAM IS TRYING 
ITS BEST AS CHAIR TO MOVE THE ARF PROCESS FORWARD.  HE 
RESISTED THE SUGGESTION OF TOPIC-BASED SECURITY DISCUSSIONS, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00539  01 OF 03  080245Z 
SAYING IT BREAKS WITH LONG-HELD PRECEDENT AND IS TOO CHAOTIC 
IN A FORUM WITH 23 MEMBERS.  A SET AGENDA PROVIDES BETTER 
STRUCTURE FOR DISCUSSIONS.  PHUNG WELCOMED THE IDEA OF 
CONTINUED VOLUNTARY BRIEFINGS, HOWEVER, AND SAID VIETNAM 
WILL NOTIFY ASEAN COUNTERPARTS TO LOOK FOR THE U.S. 
CONTRIBUTION, AND TO PREPARE ANY BRIEFINGS THEY MAY WANT TO 
PRESENT.  THE ONLY STIPULATION IS THAT SUCH BRIEFINGS MUST 
BE RELEVANT TO THE ISG.  PHUNG ALSO UNDERTOOK TO INSTRUCT 
EGM PARTICIPANTS TO FOCUS MORE ON CONCRETE ISSUES. 
 
ARF WORKING PAPERS 
------------------ 
 
¶4.   PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY PRINCIPLES:  DAS BOYCE EXPRESSED 
THE U.S. VIEW THAT FORWARD MOVEMENT ON THE DRAFT ARF WORKING 
PAPERS IS A KEY TO PROGRESS IN THE ARF.  THE U.S. IS WILLING 
TO SEE THE PAPER ON PD PRINCIPLES PASSED AS IS, AS A 
"SNAPSHOT" OF CURRENT THINKING ON THE ISSUE.  PHUNG 
RESPONDED THAT VIETNAM HAS CIRCULATED THE PAPER, BUT 
REACTIONS ARE NOT ALL YET IN.  HE DID REMARK THAT ASEAN IS 
"SERIOUSLY STUDYING" THIS PAPER, AND HOPES TO HAVE CONSENSUS 
BY KL. 
 
¶5.   ROLE OF THE ARF CHAIR:  BOYCE SAID THE U.S. BELIEVES 
THE CHAIR NEEDS TO HAVE AN "EARLY WARNING" FUNCTION, THE 
ABILITY TO FLAG ISSUES WHICH NEED ATTENTION, AND AUTHORITY 
TO CONVENE MEETINGS IF NECESSARY AND IF GROUP CONSENSUS 
EXISTS.   PHUNG WAS NON-COMMITTAL, NOTING ONLY THAT THE 
DRAFT PAPER WILL BE ON THE AGENDA AT THE KL ISG, AND 
DISCUSSION SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO THE SOM OR MINISTERIAL 
LEVEL IF NECESSARY. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00539  01 OF 03  080245Z 
 
¶6.   PHUNG EXPRESSED VIETNAM'S GREAT APPRECIATION FOR RECENT 
INVITATIONS TO VIETNAM AS THE ARF CHAIR TO ATTEND A PACOM 
LEGAL CONFERENCE AND UNDERTAKE REGIONAL FAMILIARIZATION 
TRAVEL (THE LATTER INVITATION INCLUDES BRUNEI, AS FUTURE ARF 
CHAIR).  PHUNG SAID THE PACOM INVITATION WENT TO THE 
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE FOR CONSIDERATION; IT WAS 
LIKELY THE MND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND IN TIME TO 
ACCEPT THE INVITATION.  VIETNAM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND 
IN ANY EVENT IN THE CAPACITY OF ARF CHAIR, AS THERE WAS NO 
PRECEDENT.  THE REGIONAL TRAVEL INVITATION WILL BE AN ISSUE 
OF DISCUSSION AT THE MARCH ASEAN SOM IN HO CHI MINH CITY, 
ALTHOUGH PHUNG NOTED THAT VIETNAM'S REMAINING TIME AS ARF 
CHAIR IS SHORT. 
 
¶7.   EXPERTS AND EMINENT PERSONS REGISTER:  DAS BOYCE 
EXPRESSED THE U.S. VIEW THAT THE EEP REGISTER SHOULD 
REPRESENT A PROBLEM-SOLVING GROUP, RATHER THAN JUST A 
RESEARCH BODY.  HAVING THE SCOPE TO OFFER OPINIONS WOULD 
ATTRACT MORE TRUE EXPERTISE TO THE REGISTER, WHICH COULD BE 
A VALUABLE RESOURCE -- SUBJECT ALWAYS TO CONSENSUS -- TO AN 
EXPANDED ARF CHAIR. 
 
¶8.   PHUNG SAID THIS ISSUE NEEDS MORE DISCUSSION AMONGST 
ASEAN MEMBERS.  IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR THE EEP GROUP TO 
PERFORM IN-DEPTH STUDIES AND OFFER NON-BINDING PROFESSIONAL 
ADVICE, ALTHOUGH ANY ACTIVITIES WOULD HAVE TO OBSERVE BASIC 
ASEAN PRINCIPLES OF RESPECT FOR SOVEREIGNTY AND NON- 
INTERFERENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS.  THE DRAFT PAPER ALSO 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00539  02 OF 03  080246Z 
NEEDS TO QUANTIFY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ARF MEMBERS. 
VIETNAM WOULD LIKE THIS PAPER DISCUSSED AT THE APRIL ASEAN 
FOREIGN MINISTERS' RETREAT. 
 
OTHER ARF ISSUES 
---------------- 
 
¶9.   PHUNG COMMNENTED THAT VIETNAM IS WORKING NOW ON THE 
DRAFT CHAIR'S STATEMENT FOR THE JULY MINISTERIAL, AND WILL 
SEND IT OUT SOON FOR COMMENTS.  VIETNAM PARTICULARLY WANTS 
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE MAJOR ARF PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE U.S., 
FOR THE MINISTERIAL AND BEYOND. 
 
¶10.  VIETNAM HAS HEARD THE CRITICISM, PHUNG CONTINUED, THAT 
THE ARF IS SLOWING UNDER ITS CHAIRMANSHIP.  ALL ASEAN 
MEMBERS, VIETNAM INCLUDED, AGREE THAT THE ARF IS A SLOW- 
MOVING FORUM.  VIETNAM VERY MUCH WANTS TO LEAVE ITS MARK AS 
ARF CHAIR, BUT IS CONSTRAINED IN PUSHING FORWARD BY THE 
ASEAN TRADITION OF WAITING FOR NEW MEMBERS AND THOSE 
UNPREPARED FOR NEXT STEPS.  FOR THIS REASON, ALTHOUGH 
VIETNAM IS ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT 
STAGE, CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES (CBMS) WILL REMAIN THE 
ARF'S MAIN THRUST FOR THE TIME BEING. 
 
¶11.   IN THIS VEIN, PHUNG BROUGHT UP THE ECONOMIC SECURITY 
SEMINAR INITIATIVE, ON WHICH A PAPER CIRCULATED AT THE SEOUL 
ISG.  VIETNAM WANTS A CO-SPONSOR FOR THIS CBM, AND SOLICITS 
U.S. SUPPORT.  THE MARCH SOM WILL DISCUSS THE TOPIC, AND 
VIETNAM WOULD TENTATIVELY LIKE TO SEE THE SEMINAR HAPPEN AT 
THE END OF 2001.   DAS BOYCE PROMISED U.S. CONSIDERATION OF 
THE IDEA. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00539  02 OF 03  080246Z 
 
¶12.  BOYCE ASKED FOR PHUNG'S VIEWS ON DISCUSSIONS OVER THE 
SOUTH CHINA SEA CODE OF CONDUCT, AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE 
ARF COULD WORK.  PHUNG SAID ONLY THAT "DIFFERENCES" REMAIN 
AMONGST THE ASEAN MEMBERS, AND THE GROUP NEEDS TIME TO REACH 
CONSENSUS.  OF POSSIBLE NOTE, PHUNG SAID CHINA HAD PROPOSED 
A CHINA-VIETNAM-MALAYSIA MEETING TO DISCUSS OUTSTANDING 
ISSUES, BUT ASEAN BELIEVES INTERNAL GROUP CONSENSUS IS 
NECESSARY FIRST BEFORE ENGAGING WITH CHINA ON ANY OTHER 
BASIS. 
 
ASEAN POST-MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶13.  PHUNG SAID VIETNAM IS ALSO MAKING PREPARATIONS FOR THE 
ASEAN PMC, AND IS SOLICITING THE VIEWS OF THE DIALOGUE 
PARTNERS ON HOW TO MANAGE THE OVERLAP BETWEEN THE THE ASEAN 
MINISTERS' MEETING, THE ARF, THE PMC, AND APEC.  QUNG 
EMPHASIZED THAT THE VIEWS OF MAJOR PARTNERS SUCH AS THE U.S. 
ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.  VIETNAM'S CURRENT VIEW IS THAT 
THE PMC SHOULD FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT, LEAVING POLITICAL AND 
SECURITY ISSUES TO THE ARF. 
 
¶14.  BOYCE EXPRESSED U.S. RESERVATIONS OVER A CONTINUED 
DEVELOPMENT FOCUS IN THE PMC, AS THE LEVEL OF DETAIL 
ENTAILED IS NOT WELL SUITED TO DISCUSSION AT THE MINISTERIAL 
LEVEL AND OTHER MORE APPROPRIATE FORA ALREADY EXIST.  BOYCE 
ALSO RAISED CONTINUED LEGAL CONSTRAINTS ON U.S. DEVELOPMENT 
COOPERATION WITH ASEAN, BECAUSE OF OUR POLICY CONCERNS OVER 
BURMA, AND SUGGESTED TOO HARD A FOCUS ON THIS TOPIC COULD 
AFFECT THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE MEETING.  INSTEAD, THE U.S. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00539  02 OF 03  080246Z 
BELIEVES THE PMC MAY BE A USEFUL VENUE FOR DISCUSSION OF 
TRANSNATIONAL AND EXTRA-REGIONAL ISSUES. 
 
¶15.  PHUNG UNDERTOOK TO PASS THESE VIEWS ON, AND COMMENTED 
THAT DISCUSSION OF EXTERNAL VIEWS COULD BE USEFUL.  IN THE 
10-PLUS-ONE MEETING IN PARTICULAR, HOWEVER, TIME IS LIMITED, 
AND NEEDS TO BE DEVOTED TO BILATERAL U.S.-ASEAN TIES. 
OVERALL, VIETNAM AND MOST OTHER ASEAN MEMBERS CONTINUE TO 
THINK DEVELOPMENT IS A GOOD TOPIC FOR THE PMC.  PRESSED FOR 
FURTHER DETAIL ON DEVELOPMENT ISSUES VIETNAM PROPOSES FOR 
DISCUSSION, PHUNG OUTLINED THE FOLLOWING: 
 
     -- OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AS ASEAN FACES 
GLOBALIZATION, AND HOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICES. 
 
     -- NARROWING THE DEVELOPMENT GAP BETWEEN THE ASEAN OLD- 
TIMERS AND NEW-COMERS, AND BETWEEN ASEAN AND OTHER REGIONS. 
 
     -- HOW TO ATTRACT EXPANDED OUTSIDE INVESTMENT AND 
COOPERATION, BOTH BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL, INCLUDING 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. 
 
 
PHUNG COMMENTED THAT THE POINT OF THESE DISCUSSIONS WOULD 
NOT BE TO REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SO MUCH AS TO SOLICIT 
IDEAS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS. 
 
¶16.  DAS BOYCE DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR THIS 
MESSAGE BEFORE DEPARTING POST. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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HARTER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED