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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
02HANOI1405	2002-06-03 06:24	2011-08-30 01:44	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	Embassy Hanoi

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


 2002HANOI01405 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO6718

PAGE 01        HANOI  01405  01 OF 03  030638Z 
ACTION SCT-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   A-00     ACQ-00   CA-01    CCO-00   
      CG-00    CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00  USNW-00  DOEE-00  DOTE-00  
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    OIGO-00  FAAE-00  FBIE-00  
      UTED-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   INSE-00  IO-00    
      L-00     VCE-00   M-00     AC-01    DCP-01   NRCE-00  NSAE-00  
      OCS-03   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PER-00   PM-00    
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00   
      TEST-00  TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  USSS-00  ASDS-01  R-00     
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   
      SWCI-00    /014W
                  ------------------B715D2  030642Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6639
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 
NSC WASHDC
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/EA/ABLAGG

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 001405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01405  01 OF 03  030638Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR IO AA/S WILLIAM WOOD, EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM VM CTERR ETMIN HUMANR DPOL HIV AIDS
SUBJECT: AA/S WOOD HOLDS WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS 
--        IN HANOI 
 
REF:  HANOI 1332 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  DURING A MAY 20-22 VISIT TO HANOI, 
IO AA/S WOOD DISCUSSED COUNTERTERRORISM, THE 
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC), NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
REFORM, THE MONTAGNARDS, MULTILATERAL AFFAIRS, AND THE 
MIDDLE EAST WITH GVN AND COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM 
(CPV) OFFICIALS, STUDENTS FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS' INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (MFA/IIR), 
AND UN OFFICIALS.  VIETNAMESE INTERLOCUTORS WERE 
SUPPORTIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST 
TERRORISM, BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE UN 
FRAMEWORK.  THE GVN, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UN, IS 
MOVING AHEAD TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. 
THE GVN IS "STUDYING" THE ICC, BUT APPEARS GENERALLY TO 
AGREE WITH THE US VIEW.  THE GVN DOES NOT SUPPORT 
SUICIDE BOMBINGS IN ISRAEL, BUT HAS "GREAT SYMPATHY FOR 
THE PALESTINIANS.  VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS APPEALED FOR USG 
SUPPORT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A SEAT ON THE UN 
SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2008. END SUMMARY 
¶2.  (U)  DURING HIS VISIT TO HANOI, IO AA/S WOOD MET 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01405  01 OF 03  030638Z 
WITH NGUYEN SI DUNG, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 
(NA) CENTER FOR INFORMATION; PHAM TIEN NHIEN, DIRECTOR, 
NORTHWESTERN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA DEPARTMENT, CPV 
COMMISSION ON EXTERNAL RELATIONS; AND WITH MINISTRY OF 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (MFA/IO) 
DIRECTOR AMBASSADOR DINH THI MINH HUYEN.  IN ADDITION, 
AA/S MET WITH EMBASSY HANOI'S COUNTRY TEAM, PARTICIPATED 
IN A WORKING LUNCH WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNDP, 
UNHCR, AND IMF, AND HELD AN OPEN FORUM WITH 65 STUDENTS 
FROM IIR. (NOTE:  IIR IS ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE 
DEPARTMENT'S FSI.  END NOTE) 
 
--------------------------------------- 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REFORM MOVING FORWARD 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (U)  THE NA'S DUNG TOLD AA/S WOOD THE NA HAS A "VERY 
COOPERATIVE" RELATIONSHIP WITH UNDP AND IS GRATEFUL FOR 
ITS ASSISTANCE IN THE GOOD GOVERNANCE PROJECT.  THIS 
PROJECT IS HELPING VIETNAM DEVELOP A MORE TRANSPARENT 
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, DUNG CLAIMED.  DUNG DESCRIBED 
THE NA AS "THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTION OF DEMOCRACY 
IN VIETNAM."  THE PROJECT IS ALSO SENDING GVN OFFICIALS 
ABROAD FOR TRAINING AND TO LEARN HOW LEGISLATURES IN 
OTHER COUNTRIES FUNCTION.  IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES HAVE 
INCLUDED A CD ROM CONTAINING INFORMATION ON VIETNAM'S 
LEGAL STRUCTURE AND THE CREATION OF PORTABLE LEGAL 
LIBRARIES.  THESE EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO CREATE A MORE 
TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT, DUNG SAID.  HE ALSO NOTED THAT, 
WHILE ECONOMIC REFORMS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE GVN'S 
AGENDA, HE HAS PUSHED THE VIEW THAT POLITICAL REFORMS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01405  01 OF 03  030638Z 
ARE A KEY COMPLEMENT TO THIS EFFORT.  HE POINTED OUT 
THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, "THE RULE OF LAW IS 
ACKNOWLEDGED" IN THE COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTION.  ALSO, THE 
CONCEPT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S "LIMITS OF POWER IS 
RECOGNIZED." 
 
¶4.  (U)  REFORMING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS A KEY COMPONENT 
OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM, ACCORDING TO BUI DUC 
THU, NA DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMY AND 
BUDGET.  HE ADMITTED THE PRESENT STRUCTURE IS 
"CUMBERSOME AND NOT VERY GOOD."  ALSO, THE PRESENT 
SYSTEM IS TOO TOLERANT OF CORRUPTION.  THU DISCUSSED THE 
GVN'S PLANS TO DEVOLVE MORE BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY TO 
THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL.  ALSO, PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO 
REVISE THE BUDGET LAW TO DEFINE MORE CLEARLY 
RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.  THESE IMPROVEMENTS 
WILL REQUIRE ENHANCED CAPACITY AMONG NA MEMBERS AND 
PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S COUNCILS, THU CONCLUDED. 
 
¶5.  (U)  IN CONCLUDING THE MEETING, DUNG EXPRESSED 
SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM 
AND SAID HE HOPED THE USG WOULD SUPPORT VIETNAM IN ITS 
BID FOR ELECTION TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2008. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
UN OFFICIALS DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS, MONTAGNARDS, HIV 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY DCM PORTER, UNDP 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 05        HANOI  01405  01 OF 03  030638Z 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO6721 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  01405  02 OF 03  030639Z 
ACTION SCT-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   A-00     ACQ-00   CA-01    CCO-00 
      CG-00    CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00  USNW-00  DOEE-00  DOTE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    OIGO-00  FAAE-00  FBIE-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   INSE-00  IO-00 
      L-00     VCE-00   M-00     AC-01    DCP-01   NRCE-00  NSAE-00 
      OCS-03   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PER-00   PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00 
      TEST-00  TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  USSS-00  ASDS-01  R-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
      SWCI-00    /014W 
                  ------------------B715E6  030643Z /38 
R 030624Z JUN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6640 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 
NSC WASHDC 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/EA/ABLAGG 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HANOI 001405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01405  02 OF 03  030639Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR IO AA/S WILLIAM WOOD, EAP/BCLTV 
 
COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE AND UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR 
JORDAN RYAN TOLD AA/S WOOD THAT, HAVING RETURNED TO 
HANOI FOR A SECOND TOUR (HIS FIRST TOUR WAS 1993-1996), 
HE WAS STRUCK BY THE DIFFERENCES.  SPECIFICALLY, HE 
NOTED THAT, DURING HIS FIRST TOUR, THERE WAS ALMOST NO 
DISSENT AND TOPICS SUCH AS HUMAN RIGHTS WERE NOT 
DISCUSSED OPENLY.  THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT 
AT LEAST THE TOPIC IS ON THE GVN'S AGENDA.  MR. RYAN IS 
WORKING FOR MORE COLLABORATION AMONG THE UN "FAMILY" IN 
VIETNAM AND POINTED TO THE RECENT MEETING AMONG UNICEF, 
UNDP, AND UNFPA AS A SIGN OF PROGRESS. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM AA/S WOOD, 
RYAN ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE SERIOUS HIV/AIDS PROBLEM AND 
THE CONNECTION WITH INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE.  HE 
COMPLIMENTED THE USG FOR ITS HELP THROUGH USAID AND CDC, 
BUT LAMENTED THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO "COMPETING" 
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE GVN'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH.  RYAN 
SAID THAT STATISTICS INDICATED 1.3 PERCENT OF NEW ARMY 
RECRUITS ARE HIV-INFECTED.  ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF HIV 
CASES ARE RELATED TO DRUG INJECTING.  MR. RYAN SAID MORE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01405  02 OF 03  030639Z 
HIGH LEVEL COMMITMENT FROM THE GVN IS NEEDED. 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  VU AN SON, UNHCR HANOI OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, 
TOLD AA/S WOOD THAT UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSADI 
HOPES TO VISIT THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS NEXT MONTH.  THE 
905 MONTAGNARDS WHO FLED VIETNAM ARE BEING PROCESSED FOR 
RESETTLEMENT IN THE U.S.  AMBASSADOR BURGHARDT NOTED 
REPORTS THAT THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT RECENTLY SEALED 
THE BORDER AND TURNED BACK ABOUT 200 MONTAGNARDS.  SON 
SAID UNHCR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH REPORTS AND NOTED 
THE FIGURE HE HEARD WAS 500.  SON OPINED THAT ULTIMATELY 
THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO IMPROVE LOCAL ECONOMIC AND 
SOCIAL CONDITIONS. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
CPV:  AGAINST TERRORISM, NOT SURE ABOUT ICC 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) DIRECTOR NHIEN TOLD AA/S WOOD THE CPV'S VIEW 
IS CLEAR:  "WE FIGHT TERRORISM IN ANY FORM."  HOWEVER, 
THE CPV ALSO BELIEVES ANY OPERATIONS AGAINST TERRORISTS 
SHOULD BE "IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE 
UN FRAMEWORK."  NHIEN SAID VIETNAM HAS BEEN PLEASED TO 
ASSIST THE USG.  THE GVN HAS RESPONDED ON A TIMELY BASIS 
TO REQUESTS FROM THE US EMBASSY REGARDING LISTS OF 
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND BANK ACCOUNTS THAT COULD BE 
POTENTIALLY USED BY TERRORISTS.  FORTUNATELY, NO 
TERRORIST ACTIVITY HAS BEEN FOUND YET, HE SAID.  NHIEN 
NOTED THAT THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM CUTS BOTH WAYS, AND HE 
APPEALED TO AA/S WOOD TO CARRY THE MESSAGE BACK THAT THE 
GVN ALSO WANTS THE USG TO DEAL STRONGLY WITH WHAT HE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  01405  02 OF 03  030639Z 
TERMED "TERRORIST US-BASED GROUPS WORKING AGAINST 
VIETNAM."  AA/S WOOD SAID HE WOULD CONVEY THIS MESSAGE 
BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT.  NHIEN ALSO MADE A PITCH FOR 
AA/S WOOD'S ASSISTANCE IN PREVENTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF 
A MONUMENT IN WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD FLY THE 
FLAG OF THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM.  AA/S WOOD SAID 
HE WOULD ALSO CONVEY THIS CONCERN TO WASHINGTON, 
ALTHOUGH HE REMINDED NHIEN THAT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS 
GUARANTEED TO ALL AMERICANS. 
 
¶10.  (SBU)  CONCERNING THE ICC, AA/S WOOD EXPLAINED THE 
USG'S CONCERNS AND ASKED FOR VIETNAM'S SUPPORT FOR 
ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROCESS.  NHIEN 
DID NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY ON ARTICLE 98 SUPPORT, BUT 
ADMITTED THAT, WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN INTERNATIONAL 
TRIBUNALS IN THE PAST, HE WAS NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH NOR 
DID HE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ICC CONCEPT. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
LIVELY EXCHANGE AT IIR ON MULTILATERAL ISSUES 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶11.  (U)  ABOUT 65 IIR STUDENTS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO 
ENGAGE AA/S WOOD ON A RANGE OF MULTILATERAL ISSUES, 
INCLUDING (1) THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNATIONAL 
TRIBUNAL IN CAMBODIA; (2) WHY THE U.S. REFUSED TO SIGN 
ON TO THE ICC; (3) THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE UN AND 
THE U.S. IN AFGHANISTAN; (4) THE FUTURE SIZE OF THE UN 
SECURITY COUNCIL; (5) HOW TO DEFINE TERRORISTS AND 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO6722 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  01405  03 OF 03  030639Z 
ACTION SCT-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   A-00     ACQ-00   CA-01    CCO-00 
      CG-00    CIAE-00  COME-00  CTME-00  USNW-00  DOEE-00  DOTE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    OIGO-00  FAAE-00  FBIE-00 
      UTED-00  VC-00    H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   INSE-00  IO-00 
      L-00     VCE-00   M-00     AC-01    DCP-01   NRCE-00  NSAE-00 
      OCS-03   OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PER-00   PM-00 
      PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    STR-00 
      TEST-00  TRSE-00  T-00     USIE-00  USSS-00  ASDS-01  R-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
      SWCI-00    /014W 
                  ------------------B715EC  030644Z /38 
R 030624Z JUN 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6641 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 
NSC WASHDC 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/EA/ABLAGG 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HANOI 001405 
 
SIPDIS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01405  03 OF 03  030639Z 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR IO AA/S WILLIAM WOOD, EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
 
TERRORISM; (7) THE ROLE OF IMF-MANDATED ECONOMIC REFORMS 
IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; AND (6) THE ROLE OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RELATED TO US ACTIONS IN 
NICARAGUA IN 1986. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
MFA/IO:  AGAINST TERRORISM, SUPPORTIVE OF PALESTINIANS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  MFA/IO DIRECTOR HUYEN TOLD AA/S WOOD THAT, 
WHILE THE GVN IS AGAINST TERRORISM AND SUPPORTS THE 
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN, ALL ACTIVITIES DIRECTED AGAINST 
TERRORISM "SHOULD CONFORM WITH THE UN CHARTER AND 
INTERNATIONAL LAW."  HUYEN SAID THE GVN HAS RATIFIED 
"FIVE" TERRORIST CONVENTIONS AND WOULD LIKE TO RATIFY 
"THE MAJORITY, IN THE NEAR FUTURE."  (NOTE:  PER THE 
GVN'S UNSCR 1373 SUBMISSION, THE GVN HAS ONLY RATIFIED 
FOUR AND IS NOW CONSIDERING A FIFTH.  END NOTE)  HUYEN 
ALSO REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR ACTIONS AGAINST "THOSE 
VIETNAMESE AND OTHER GROUPS PLOTTING TERRORIST 
ACTIVITIES AGAINST VIETNAM FROM THE U.S."  AA/S WOOD 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01405  03 OF 03  030639Z 
TOLD HUYEN SAID THE USG WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY FORM OF 
TERRORISM ANYWHERE.  HE ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR 
VIETNAM'S PLEDGE OF USD 300,000 IN MATERIAL ASSISTANCE 
FOR AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION. 
 
¶13.  (SBU)  CONCERNING THE MIDDLE EAST, HUYEN SAID 
VIETNAM IS "VERY WORRIED."  VIETNAM DOES NOT SUPPORT 
SUICIDE BOMBING, BUT UNDERSTANDS THOSE PALESTINIANS 
UNDER OCCUPATION ARE ACTING "OUT OF DESPAIR-THEY HAVE NO 
OTHER MEANS."  HUYEN FURTHER STATED "WE CONDEMN ALL 
VIOLENCE THAT KILLS PEOPLE."  SHE URGED THE USG TO 
CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO "ACCELERATE THE PEACE PROCESS" 
AND BRING ABOUT A TWO-STATE SOLUTION-"THE ONLY WAY TO 
SOLVE THE PROBLEM," SHE OPINED.  AA/S WOOD ASKED HUYEN 
TO RESIST UNBALANCED POSITIONS ON MIDDLE EAST 
RESOLUTIONS. 
 
¶14.  (SBU)  ON THE ICC, HUYEN SAID THE GVN'S VIEW IS 
THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. 
HOWEVER, THE ICC CONCEPT IS "NEW TO US AND WE ARE 
STUDYING IT."  SHE NOTED VIETNAM'S CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE 
SOVEREIGNTY ISSUES CONCERNING THE ICC. 
 
¶15.  (U)  AA/S WOOD HAS CLEARED THIS MESSAGE.  PORTER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED

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Viewing cable 02HANOI1405, AA/S WOOD HOLDS WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS