This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

221034Z May 01

2001HANOI01245 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ5476

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ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  COME-00  DOTE-00  DS-00    
      EB-00    FAAE-00  FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   
      IO-00    LAB-01   VCE-00   NSAE-00  OES-01   OIC-02   SS-00    
      STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-01   DRL-02   NFAT-00  
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                  ------------------EF2374  221034Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2944
INFO NSC WASHDC
SECDEF WASHDC
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 001245 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, DRL, PRM, INR 
NSC FOR EAST ASIAN DIRECTORATE 
SECDEF FOR ISA/EAP STERN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ETRD VM HUMANR CTERR
SUBJECT:  A/S KELLY'S BILATERAL MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY FM BIN: REGIONAL ISSUES, BTA, U.S. ACTIVITIST GROUPS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
 
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REF: HANOI 1217 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: ON MAY 17, FOLLOWING ARF SOM MEETINGS IN 
HANOI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY KELLY ENGAGED IN CORDIAL BUT 
FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH FIRST DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NGUYEN 
DINH BIN ON A RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE CONTINUITY OF 
U.S. POLICIES IN THE REGION AND U.S.-VIETNAM RELATIONS.  BIN 
PRAISED THE REMARKABLE PROGRESS MADE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS OF 
`AGREEMENT' BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, AND STRESSED THE 
IMPORTANCE OF EARLY RATIFICATION OF THE BILATERAL TRADE 
AGREEMENT.  HE NOTED, HOWEVER, AREAS OF `DISAGREEMENT' 
REMAIN, INCLUDING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH GROUPS IN THE 
U.S. WHICH SUPPORT ANTI-GVN ACTIVITIES.  ADDITIONALLY, HE 
RECITED THE OFT-HEARD REFRAIN THE U.S. HAS FAILED TO 
ACKNOWLEDGE THE "CONSEQUENCES OF WAR", REFERRING 
PARTICULARLY TO THE ALLEGED CONTINUING WIDESPREAD EFFECTS OF 
AGENT ORANGE DIOXIN CONTAMINATION.  HE SAID THE GVN LOOKS 
FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE LATE JULY VISIT OF 
SECRETARY POWELL TO ATTEND SENIOR ASEAN/ARF MEETINGS IN 
 
SIPDIS 
HANOI, SO THAT THE MINISTRY CAN UNDERTAKE ARRANGEMENTS.  THE 
FOLLOWING DAY, KELLY PAID A CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER NIEN. 
THAT MEETING WAS REPORTED REFTEL.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) ON MAY 17, FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ASEAN 
REGIONAL FORUM SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY 
JIM KELLY, ACCOMPANIED BY AMBASSADOR PETERSON, DAS BOYCE, 
DCM HARTER, EAP/RSP DIRECTOR STROTZ, ECONOMIC COUNSELOR DRY, 
POLITICAL OFFICER COLEMAN, AND EAP STAFF AID WOLFF, MET WITH 
FIRST DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NGUYEN DINH BIN, INTERNATIONAL 
ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS DIRECTOR DINH THI MINH HUYEN, DEPUTY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01245  01 OF 04  221034Z 
DIRECTOR AMERICAS DEPARTMENT DOAN XUAN HUNG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR 
POLICY PLANNING OFFICE TRAN DUC MAU, AMERICAS DESK OFFICERS 
NGUYEN THI BAO HUONG AND HA KIM NGOC, AND BIN STAFF AID TRAN 
QUANG TUYEN FOR BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS.  SINCE THIS WAS THE 
FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR BIN TO MEET WITH THE ASSISTANT 
SECRETARY, HIS PRESENTATION COVERED A NUMBER OF AREAS. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
¶3. (SBU) BIN OPENED NOTING BOTH THE U.S. AND VIETNAM HAD 
RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGE: IN THE U.S., 
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAD ASSUMED OFFICE; IN VIETNAM, THE 
COUNTRY HAD CONCLUDED ITS NINTH PARTY CONGRESS.  IN 
RESPONSE, KELLY ASSURED BIN THERE WOULD BE CONTINUITY IN 
APPROACH BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE REGION AND IN 
VIETNAM IN PARTICULAR.  THE `HOLDOVER' APPOINTMENT OF 
AMBASSADOR PETERSON WAS EVIDENCE OF THAT IN VIETNAM. KELLY 
UNDERSCORED THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WHILE "THERE WILL LIKELY 
BE CHANGES IN TONE," THE APPROACH WITH EVERY IMPORTANT 
RELATIONSHIP WILL REMAIN QUITE SIMILAR AS THAT OF  FORMER 
ADMINISTRATION.  HE SAID BOTH PRESIDENT BUSH AND SECRETARY 
POWELL HAD TOLD HIM TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE IN 
CONSULTATIONS WITH ASIAN COUNTRIES.  THE ADMINISTRATION 
WANTS TO GET TO KNOW THESE "FRIENDS" TO GET A BETTER SENSE 
OF THEIR PROBLEMS, INTERESTS AND PERSPECTIVES. KELLY SAID HE 
ATTENDED THE ARF SOM MEETINGS TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF THE 
POLICIES AND ISSUES TO BE IN A POSITION TO COUNSEL SECRETARY 
POWELL FOR HIS VISIT TO HANOI IN LATE JULY FOR ASEAN ARF/PMC 
MEETINGS. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) KELLY SAID ONLY DAYS EARLIER HE HAD ASSUMED HIS 
POSITION AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY, YET, HE'D VISITED JAPAN, 
KOREA, SINGAPORE, AND OTHER COUNTRIES EN ROUTE TO VIETNAM, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01245  01 OF 04  221034Z 
AS WELL AS HAVING  THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN TALKS IN 
CHINA.  IN VIETNAM, HE HAD MET REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL SOUTH 
EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.  EVERYWHERE HE'S ENGAGED IN TWO WAY 
DISCUSSION AND EXPLAINED THE PRESIDENT'S THINKING BEHIND HIS 
MAY 1 SPEECH WITH REFERENCE TO NUCLEAR AND STRATEGIC 
CONSIDERATIONS. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) BIN SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH KELLY'S INTEREST IN 
THE REGION AND IN VIETNAM.  HE SAID THE NINTH PARTY 
CONGRESS'S CONCLUSION IN APRIL SHOWED NOT ONLY THAT VIETNAM 
REAFFIRMS THE DOMESTIC `DOI MOI' OR `RENOVATION' POLICIES, 
BUT ALSO THAT THE COUNTRY'S COMMITMENT TO OPENNESS TO THE 
OUTSIDE WILL CONTINUE.  VIETNAM STANDS TO SERVE "AS A 
FRIENDLY AND RELIABLE PARTNER",  HE SAID.  "WE ATTACH GREAT 
IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOPING RELATIONS WITH THE U.S.  WHILE WE 
HAVE DIFFERENCES, WE ALSO HAVE COMMON INTERESTS."   GOOD 
RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. WILL NOT ONLY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF 
THE TWO COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO HELP PROMOTE REGIONAL PEACE AND 
STABILITY. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) ACCORDING TO BIN, AREAS WHERE THE U.S. AND VIETNAM 
HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS INCLUDE SCIENTIFIC AND 
TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION, COMMERCE, EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE, 
METEOROLOGY, LABOR, AND HUMANITARIAN WORK.  THE BILATERAL 
S&T AGREEMENT CAME INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 26 AND THE TWO SIDES 
ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING IMPLEMENTATION.  HE SPECIFICALLY 
PRAISED THE WORK OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND 
MENTIONED THAT AGENCY'S SUPPORT FOR DESIGN AND  UPGRADE OF 
THE DA NANG AIRPORT.  BIN SPOKE HIGHLY OF U.S. -VIETNAM 
COOPERATIVE EFFORTS IN EDUCATION, TOO, HIGHLIGHTING THE 
FULBRIGHT AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS 
THE EDUCATIONAL TRUST ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR FUNDED BY 
VIETNAMESE DEBT PAYMENTS TO THE U.S.  HE SAID THESE 
ACTIVITIES WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT 
IN VIETNAM.  HE NOTED THE RECENT VISITS TO VIETNAM OF  CODEL 
CRANE AND STAFFDEL ATKINS. 
 
¶7.  BUT, HE CONTINUED, "SPEAKING FRANKLY PROBLEMS HAVE 
DEVELOPED AFFECTING THE RELATIONSHIP."  THE TWO SIDES NEED 
TO FIND WAYS TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM IN THE RELATIONSHIP. 
POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND EXCHANGE NEEDS "TO CONTINUE AND 
INTENSIFY."  HE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF NOVEMBER'S 
VISIT TO VIETNAM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON.  HE HOPED IN YEARS 
AHEAD FOR OTHER HIGH-LEVEL VISITS.   SIMILARLY, FREQUENT 
CONTACTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS WOULD HELP ADDRESS "EMERGING ISSUES."  IN THAT 
REGARD, BIN WELCOMED THE UPCOMING VISIT OF RICHARD HAAS OF 
THE POLICY PLANNING OFFICE TO PARTICIPATE IN POLICY TALKS 
WITH THE GVN.  ALSO, BIN SAID THE VIETNAMESE SIDE WAS 
PLEASED WITH THE PROSPECT OF SECRETARY POWELL'S LATE JULY 
VISIT.  NOT ONLY WILL THE VISIT ADVANCE THE ASEAN DIALOGUE, 
BUT IT ALSO WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 
TWO FOREIGN MINISTRIES TO COOPERATE.   HE SOUGHT "PROPOSED 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01245  02 OF 04  221034Z 
PLANS AND PROGRAMS" FOR THE SECRETARY TO BEGIN UNDERTAKING 
ARRANGEMENTS. 
 
¶8.  BIN NOTED THE CENTRAL IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AND ECONOMICS 
IN THE RELATIONSHIP.  IT HAD TAKEN FOUR YEARS TO CONCLUDE 
THE BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT (BTA).  THE BTA LAYS THE 
FOUNDATION FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO MOVE AHEAD.  ITS 
IMPLEMENTATION WILL MUTUALLY BENEFIT BOTH SIDES.  "WE SHOULD 
NOT ATTACH DIFFICULTIES OR CONDITIONS TO THE RATIFICATION 
PROCESS."  HE ASKED REGARDING THE TIMING OF THE SUBMISSION 
OF THE BTA TO CONGRESS.  HE SAID VIETNAM IS PREPARING FOR 
RATIFICATION BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS FOR 
IMPLEMENTATION FOLLOWING RATIFICATION.  THE VIETNAMESE 
GOVERNMENT HAS BRIEFED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DELEGATES ON THE 
BTA.  "IF THERE ARE DELAYS IN RATIFICATION," HE SAID, "IT 
WILL CALL INTO QUESTION THE INTENTION OF THE U.S. SIDE." 
BIN NOTED THE U.S. HAS ENJOYED MFN TREATMENT FROM VIETNAM 
UNILATERALLY FOR IMPORTS.  HE SAID DELAYS IN RATIFICATION BY 
THE CONGRESS COULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF 
THIS POLICY. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) ON HUMANITARIAN RELATIONS, BIN SPOKE HIGHLY OF THE 
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON MIA/POW FULLEST 
POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING, AND NOTED SADLY THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN 
APRIL WHEN A VIETNAMESE HELICOPTER CONTRACTED BY THE JOINT 
TASK FORCE CRASHED KILLING A TOTAL OF SIXTEEN AMERICANS AND 
VIETNAMESE.  HE ALSO PRAISED U.S. DISASTER RELIEF AND 
MITIGATION ASSISTANCE SAYING THE U.S. PROVIDES NEEDED 
SUPPORT WHENEVER DISASTER STRIKES.  HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED, 
REGARDING THE "CONSEQUENCES OF WAR", THE U.S. SHOULD BEAR 
"MORAL AND MATERIAL RESPONSIBILITY."  THE GVN PROVIDES A 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01245  02 OF 04  221034Z 
MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR VICTIMS OF `AGENT ORANGE', BUT IT IS 
NOT ENOUGH.  A NUMBER OF NGOS, BIN SAID, HAVE BEGUN 
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE.  HOWEVER, THE LEVEL "FALLS SHORT". 
WHILE HE SAID IT IS NECESSARY TO PURSUE RESEARCH, BECAUSE 
THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR ARE SO SERIOUS, THE GOVERNMENT FEELS 
IT CANNOT AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE RESEARCH.  HE URGED THE 
U.S. TO MAKE A "PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTION" TO VICTIMS NOW. 
FINALLY, HE SAID TWO YEARS AGO THE VIETNAMESE RED CROSS WAS 
DESIGNATED AS THE ENTITY TO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A.O. 
VICTIMS. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) BIN ALSO REITERATED THAT THE U.S. IS NOT LIVING 
UP TO THE COMMITMENTS THE DEPARTMENT'S SPOKESPERSON MADE IN 
A DECEMBER 19, 2000 STATEMENT WHICH DEPLORED PRIVATE 
AMERICAN CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN ANTI-FOREIGN GOVERNMENT 
ACTIVITY.   HE SAID THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF VIETNAMESE 
ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES 
HARMFUL TO VIETNAMESE STABILITY.   HE ALSO TOOK EXCEPTION TO 
RECENT STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON 
VIETNAM, AS WELL AS THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE COMMISSION ON 
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WHICH "FAILED TO REFLECT THE 
TRUE SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY."   BIN ALSO CRITICIZED THE 
DECISION OF THE U.S. TO ACCEPT FOR SETTLEMENT IN THE U.S. 
VIETNAMESE CITIZENS WHO "ILLEGALLY MIGRATED" TO CAMBODIA 
(FOLLOWING THE EARLY FEBRUARY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS). 
 
¶11.  (SBU) KELLY RESPONDED BY APPRECIATING THE MANY AREAS OF 
DEEP COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.  HE TOO 
REGRETTED THE TRAGIC HELICOPTER ACCIDENT IN APRIL.  HE 
COMMENTED THE BEST MEASURE TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP IS 
HONEST DISCUSSION NOT ONLY IN AREAS OF AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO 
IN AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT.  HE SAID THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM 
REPRESENTED A CASE WHERE THERE WAS A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF 
COOPERATION AND CONSENSUS AMONG DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.  THE 
VISIT OF S/P DIRECTOR RICHARD HAAS WILL PERMIT THE TWO SIDES 
TO CONTINUE THE POLICY DIALOGUE.   THE SECRETARY SHOULD ALSO 
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS. 
HOWEVER, KELLY SAID IT WAS NOT YET CLEAR HOW MUCH TIME HE 
WOULD HAVE TO SPEND IN VIETNAM, GIVEN THE PRESS OF OTHER 
URGENT INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. 
 
¶12.  (SBU) REGARDING THE BTA, KELLY SAID THERE WAS A BROAD 
CONSENSUS IN WASHINGTON IN FAVOR OF THE AGREEMENT   THE BTA 
ITSELF DOES NOT NEED RENEGOTIATION, BUT OTHER DOMESTIC TRADE 
ISSUES STILL NEED TO BE SORTED OUT. "EVERY COUNTRY HAS 
INTERNAL DEBATES OVER RESOLVING TRADE ISSUES."  WORK IN THAT 
REGARD SHOULD BE COMPLETED QUICKLY, KELLY SAID. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) KELLY EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE PROMINENCE OF THE 
AGENT ORANGE ISSUE IN THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP.  HE SAID 
HE WOULD EXPLORE THE ISSUE MORE.  YET AT THE SAME TIME, HE 
NOTED THAT ILLNESSES ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF EVERY HUMAN'S 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01245  03 OF 04  221035Z 
LIFE (IMPLYING VIETNAM CANNOT ATTRIBUTE THE LION'S SHARE OF 
ILLNESS IN THE COUNTRY TO THE EFFECTS OF RESIDUAL DIOXIN 
FROM AGENT ORANGE SPRAYING FROM THE WAR PERIOD).  KELLY 
ADDED THAT THE U.S. POLICY ON AGENT ORANGE REMAINS THAT WE 
BACK FURTHER RESEARCH AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO MOVE 
AHEAD ON THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE MADE. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) KELLY SAID U.S. ASSISTANCE TO MONTAGNARDS WHO 
FLED TO CAMBODIA FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WAS FULLY 
CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND U.S. POLICY. 
FURTHERMORE, HE URGED THE GVN TO PERMIT CONSISTENT AND 
REGULAR ACCESS TO THE AREA BY EMBASSY OFFICERS.  THIS WOULD 
BRING THE SITUATION THERE TO LIGHT, PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY 
AND UNDERSTANDING.  BIN REPLIED LATER IN THE MONTH DIPLOMATS 
(AS A GROUP) HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TRAVEL TO THE CENTRAL 
HIGHLANDS.  ON THE MATTER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DECEMBER 19 
STATEMENT, KELLY AND AMBASSADOR PETERSON REAFFIRMED THAT IT 
WAS OUR POLICY TO ATTEMPT TO PREVENT AMERICANS FROM 
INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ABROAD.   THAT 
THIS WAS A GENERAL U.S. POLICY AND THE STATEMENT WAS MEANT 
NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES TO VIETNAM, BUT ALSO CAMBODIA 
AND LAOS.  WHILE NOTING CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS 
PERMITTING FREE SPEECH, THE KELLY AND THE AMBASSADOR 
INDICATED THERE ARE CASES WHEN THE U.S. WILL ACT AGAINST 
ANTI-FOREIGN REGIME ACTIVITY.  IN THAT REGARD, KELLY NOTED 
SOME U.S. CITIZENS INVOLVED IN EUROPEAN TERRORISM WERE PUT 
ON THE TERRORIST LIST. 
 
¶15. (SBU) AS KELLY EXPRESSED THE USG'S DESIRE TO BEGIN 
PROCESSING OF FORMER U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (U-11 CASES) 
REMAINING UNDER THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM.  HE NOTED 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01245  03 OF 04  221035Z 
VIETNAM'S AGREEMENT IN 1999 TO ALLOW US TO DO SO LATER THAT 
YEAR.  WHEN VICE MINISTER BIN RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE 
U.S. DELAYED THE PROCESSING UNTIL NOW, AMBASSADOR PETERSON 
PROVIDED BACKGROUND ON THE SUBJECT AND URGED HANOI TO PERMIT 
THE EARLIER AGREEMENT TO STAND.  BIN SAID HE APPRECIATED THE 
AMBASSADOR'S EXPLANATION AND WOULD MAKE SURE OTHER CONCERNED 
OFFICIALS UNDERSTOOD THE U.S. EXPLANATION. 
 
COMMENT 
------------ 
 
¶16.  (SBU) THERE WAS LITTLE OF SURPRISE IN DEPUTY MINISTER 
BIN'S BRIEFING TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY KELLY ON THE STATE OF 
U.S.-VIETNAM RELATIONS; THESE SAME ISSUES COME UP TIME AND 
AGAIN BETWEEN MFA OFFICIALS AND EMBASSY OFFICERS.   WE 
CONTINUE TO SEE EYE-TO-EYE ON SOME THINGS: E.G., TRADE, S&T 
COOPERATION, DISASTER MITIGATION, DEMINING, A LABOR 
DIALOGUE, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION COOPERATION.   WHILE 
AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT (E.G.,  AGENT ORANGE) REMAIN 
INTRACTABLE, WE CAN DISCUSS THE ISSUES AND SHARE PROPOSALS 
WHICH HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WILL MOVE THE AGENDA FORWARD.  WE 
CONCUR IN BIN'S SUGGESTION THAT BOTH SIDES INCREASE CONTACTS 
AND DIALOGUE AS A MEANS OF FURTHER ADVANCING THE 
RELATIONSHIP.  NB: THE KELLY/BIN MEETING TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO 
EMBASSY LEARNING THAT THE GVN HAD ARRESTED HUE-BASED 
DISSIDENT PRIEST FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY.  KELLY MET THE 
FOLLOWING DAY IN A LESS FORMAL AND BRIEFER MEETING FORMAT 
WITH FOREIGN MINISTER NIEN AND DISCUSSED THAT INCIDENT.  SEE 
REFTEL.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶17. (U) ASSISTANT SECRETARY KELLY DID NOT HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS MESSAGE PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE 
FROM HANOI. 
 
PETERSON 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED