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R 270748Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1635
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1036
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM
RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA GA
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 HANOI 000964 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI SNAR EAID ECON OSCI VM
 
SUBJECT: Ambassador Meets Vietnam's Chief of Police, Signs 
Agreement Expanding Law Enforcement Cooperation 
 
Ref: Hanoi 943 
 
HANOI 00000964  001.2 OF 005 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador and Vice Minister of Public Security 
Le The Tiem signed April 26 the Amendment to the U.S.- 
Vietnam Letter of Agreement on Counternarcotics.  Prior to 
the signing ceremony, the two discussed bilateral law 
enforcement cooperation and other issues, agreeing that both 
sides' efforts to date have been fruitful.  However, the 
Ambassador stressed, the two countries can do more, and he 
urged MPS to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the 
Drug Enforcement Administration.  The Ambassador also 
requested the support of MPS in efforts to control the 
spread of HIV in Vietnam.  On a trade-related note, the 
Ambassador observed that MPS could play a role in overcoming 
obstacles to the import of American motorcycles with large 
engines.  End Summary. 
 
Law Enforcement Cooperation 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador met April 26 with Vice Minister of 
Public Security (and head of Vietnam's police) General Le 
The Tiem to sign the Amendment to the U.S.-Vietnam Letter of 
Agreement (LOA) on Counternarcotics Cooperation (full text 
of agreement in para 12; original signed document pouched to 
EAP/MLS).  Prior to the signing ceremony, the two discussed 
bilateral law enforcement and other issues for nearly 30 
minutes.  Congratulating Vice Minister Tiem for his recent 
re-election to the Communist Party's Central Committee 
(reftel), the Ambassador noted that Vietnam's reputation as 
a safe destination and place to live is in large measure 
thanks to the vice minister's efforts.  That said, as our 
bilateral relationship deepens, and more Americans visit and 
live in Vietnam, there will be incidents involving cultural 
and other differences that could lead to problems.  There 
have already been some such cases in Hanoi involving 
Americans, and we will continue to bring these to the 
attention of the authorities and cooperate with the 
Vietnamese police to mitigate against these kinds of 
problems, the Ambassador said. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Thanking General Tiem for his ministry's assistance 
in bringing the LOA amendment to fruition, the Ambassador 
observed that both the United States and Vietnam can look 
back on our past cooperation with satisfaction and recognize 
the value in the types of training and exchanges that the 
LOA has been able to bring about.  We hope that the Ministry 
of Public Security (MPS) can look ahead to the pending 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MPS and the Drug 
Enforcement Administration and agree to sign it at an early 
date.  Ultimately, we look forward to the day when we can go 
beyond training and information sharing and participate in 
mutually acceptable, coordinated activities to go after drug 
traffickers and money launderers.  Any assistance that the 
Vice Minister could render in moving the pending MOU forward 
would be appreciated.  With a rumored split of MPS into two 
ministries of police and State security in the offing, we 
are concerned that the MOU might get caught in the shuffle 
and languish in someone's in-box, the Ambassador added. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Vice Minister Tiem agreed that bilateral law 
enforcement cooperation has been fruitful, and that the 
signing of the LOA amendment will reap further benefits in 
the future.  Transnational crimes such as drug trafficking, 
trafficking in persons and terrorism impact global and 
regional stability.  Developing countries like Vietnam are 
especially vulnerable and face many difficulties in 
addressing these issues.  High-tech criminals are also 
beginning to appear in Vietnam.  These are all areas in 
which Vietnam and the United States can work together, and 
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's June 2005 visit to the United 
States helped to expand our law enforcement and security 
cooperation, Tiem said. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Vietnam's police are working day and night to make 
Vietnam a safe destination, but this goal requires the 
support of all members of society and international 
cooperation, Tiem continued.  Vietnam greatly appreciates 
the assistance the USG renders in this effort. 
Counterterrorism cooperation, particularly involving 
individuals who have tried to attack Vietnamese embassies or 
committed other terrorist acts, such as Ly Tong (who is 
currently in jail in Thailand), is especially welcome. 
Vietnam is grateful for USG assistance and support in the 
 
HANOI 00000964  002.2 OF 005 
 
 
case of terrorist Nguyen Huu Chanh (who was recently 
arrested in Seoul on an Interpol warrant), Tiem said. 
(Note:  Although U.S. law enforcement officials had 
exchanged information on Chanh's activities with their 
Vietnamese counterparts, the United States did not play a 
role in Chanh's arrest in Korea.  Furthermore, the United 
States has not assisted Vietnam in the case of Ly Tong.  End 
Note.) 
 
¶6. (SBU) Drug control is a global issue on which all 
countries must cooperate, and the LOA amendment is a great 
step forward to increase mutual trust and understanding 
between the United States and Vietnam in this field, Tiem 
stressed.  The two countries' functional agencies have 
already shared their training and experience, and MPS wants 
to go deeper in other areas.  However, this must be done 
based on a legal framework that is approved by the National 
Assembly.  Tiem himself visited DEA headquarters in 1998 and 
was able to meet with U.S. officials to discuss a number of 
issues of mutual interest.  There are clearly areas in which 
the United States and Vietnam can cooperate further, such as 
in drug treatment.  For example, Vietnam has a number of 
herbal and other remedies that might be worth sharing, Tiem 
observed. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador agreed that cooperation is the most 
effective way to tackle the regional and global issues that 
we face.  Counterterrorism, trafficking in persons and 
counternarcotics are very high among the USG's priorities. 
Over the past 18 months, bilateral cooperation has greatly 
improved, but it is still not as strong as it should be.  We 
have seen tremendous progress, but there is still room to 
grow.  During President Bush's meeting with Prime Minister 
Khai last year, law enforcement was an issue of discussion, 
and the PM's trip set a new standard of cooperation to which 
we should strive.  President Bush will visit Vietnam in 
November, and our leaders will ask whether we have met this 
new standard.  We now have a good report to present, but we 
could create an even better one over the next six months, 
the Ambassador observed. 
 
Medication-assisted Treatment, HIV/AIDS 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Drug addiction, and how to turn drug addicts away 
from narcotics, is a major interest of the United States and 
a key aspect of our efforts to assist Vietnam in its 
struggle against HIV/AIDS.  Medication-assisted treatment 
such as methadone has helped people to overcome drug 
addiction, and this is a subject worth further discussion 
with MPS and others within the GVN working on this issue. 
Furthermore, as Vietnamese society changes, and as attitudes 
towards sexuality change, the GVN needs to step up its 
efforts to ensure that its young people have access to the 
means to protect themselves from HIV and other diseases. 
MPS can play a key role in ensuring that places where young 
people congregate and meet such as bars and discos have 
condoms available.  Right now, some 100 people a day are 
infected with HIV in Vietnam, and most of them are not using 
injected drugs.  As the epidemic transforms, we must change 
our tactics to deal with it.  This cannot be done without 
the full support of the police, the Ambassador underlined. 
 
¶9. (SBU) VM Tiem expressed his full agreement, noting that 
the GVN and local governments are doing their utmost to 
ensure that drug addicts have access to drug treatment 
centers, vocational training and future employment 
opportunities.  Every level of Vietnamese officialdom is 
providing resources to tackle this problem.  To address the 
spread of HIV/AIDS, the GVN has a number of harm reduction 
programs, including efforts to provide condoms in public 
places and high-risk areas where people meet.  The GVN also 
provides syringes to drug users, the Vice Minister 
explained. 
 
Police Motorbikes 
----------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed the USG's full support for 
Vietnam's WTO aspirations, adding that the import of 
motorcycles with large engines is one area in which the 
United States and Vietnam do not yet see eye-to-eye.  The 
police, with its need for this kind of bike, may be able to 
play a role and assist with overcoming the obstacles to 
importing them.  Tiem replied that the police indeed need 
fast bikes to chase criminals, and that MPS "already has a 
plan." 
 
HANOI 00000964  003.2 OF 005 
 
 
 
The Signing Ceremony 
-------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) Prior to signing the LOA amendment, Vice Minister 
Tiem presented a statement that reflected his remarks to the 
Ambassador.  Vietnam-U.S. law enforcement cooperation has 
been to date been fruitful, he said, and the LOA amendment 
will allow both sides to expand their efforts to tackle 
narcotics-related problems.  A television crew from Vietnam 
Television covered the ceremony, and there were a number of 
still photographers and reporters at the event.  One 
representative press piece from the Vietnam News Agency 
reads as follows: 
 
The US Government will disburse an additional 500,000 USD 
for the training of drug squads in Viet Nam for 2006-07, 
according to a deal signed by Deputy Minister of Public 
Security Sen. Lieut. Gen Le The Tiem and US Ambassador 
Michael W. Marine in Ha Noi on April 26. 
 
The deal is an amendment to the letter of cooperation 
agreement on drug control between Viet Nam and the United 
States dating back to February 26, 2004. Over the past two 
years, the project has helped facilitate three training 
courses for police, customs officers, border guards, 
investigators and lawyers and organize a fieldtrip to the US 
for Vietnamese drug squads, thus strengthening their working 
capacity. 
 
The new amendment aims to intensify the training of drug 
squads for Viet Nam, the signing of which, as said by Deputy 
Minister Tiem, has demonstrated the two Governments' 
determination to fight against drug crimes. 
 
For his part, Ambassador Marine pledged further support for 
Vietnamese legal enforcement agencies in order to boost 
bilateral cooperation in the fight against trans-national 
crimes, especially in drug control. 
 
End press piece. 
 
The LOA Amendment 
----------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Begin text of LOA Amendment.  Original document 
pouched to EAP/MLS, pouch #4047358. 
 
AMENDMENT TO ANNEX 3 OF THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT ON NARCOTICS 
COOPERATION SIGNED ON 11 DECEMBER, 2003 AND FEBRUARY 26, 
2004 BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF 
VIETNAM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
¶I. GENERAL 
 
The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 
represented by Vice Minister of Public Security Colonel 
General Le The Tiem and the Government of the United States 
of America (USG), represented by Ambassador Michael W. 
Marine, (each individually, a "Party." Or collectively, the 
"Parties") jointly agree to modify, amend Annex Three of the 
letter of agreement on counternarcotics cooperation between 
the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the 
USG, signed in English in Los Angeles on December 11, 2003 
and signed in Vietnamese in Hanoi on February 26, 2004, 
hereinafter called (the "Agreement"): 
 
To provide additional funds in the amount of USD 500,000, in 
addition to the amount of assistance already committed by 
the USG for the Government of Vietnam in the LOA on 
Counternarcotics Cooperation to replicate the 
Counternarcotics Training Program identified in Annex Three 
of the Agreement three times in 2006-2007 and to conduct 
specialized counternarcotics training in coordination with 
the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration's International Training Section. 
 
The full project descriptions and project goals are 
described in Sections II and III below.  All other 
obligations, terms, and other conditions contained in the 
letter of agreement, signed in English in Los Angeles on 
December 11, 2003 and signed in Vietnamese in Hanoi on 
February 26, 2004, shall remain applicable and in full force 
and effect. 
 
II. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS 
 
 
HANOI 00000964  004.2 OF 005 
 
 
The Counternarcotics Training is designed to increase the 
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's capability 
to detect and interdict narcotics at the nation's air and 
seaports. This three-phase program will build on the 
knowledge, skills and abilities created in the July 2004 
iteration of this project by expanding the geographical 
coverage of the program to the other major air and seaports 
in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Haiphong.  Toward 
that goal, the Government of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam and the USG will take actions and commit resources 
on an annual basis as authorized by their respective 
legislative processes to support this effort. 
 
Actions to be taken in each of three iterations of the 
program include: 
 
--  Travel to an appropriate port in the United States to 
expose key front-line General Department of Customs staff to 
U.S. best practices in counternarcotics; 
 
--  A week-long training seminar for front-line Customs 
supervisors in the target port cities, taught by U.S. 
Customs Personnel and incorporating practical techniques; 
 
--  A follow-on availability for U.S. Customs experts to 
answer practical questions and assist with counternarcotics 
enforcement for up to one week following the training 
course. 
 
The planned duration of this project is one year (three one- 
month iterations, spaced at four month intervals), following 
which Vietnam's major air and seaport facilities will be 
staffed with Customs enforcement officers who are familiar 
with the latest techniques and methodologies for detecting 
and interdicting drugs. 
 
The provision of funding beyond the current fiscal year is 
conditioned upon satisfactory progress toward project goals 
and the availability of funds authorized and appropriated on 
a year-to-year basis by the U.S. Congress and approved by 
the USG Department of State, Bureau for International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). 
 
The counternarcotics specialized training is intended to 
provide training for participants assigned to active drug 
enforcement units with operational duties.  Toward that 
goal, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
and the USG will take actions and commit resources on an 
annual basis as authorized by their respective legislative 
processes to support this effort.  This training would build 
on the assistance contained in the main LOA document and 
would reach additional counternarcotics officers.  The 
training will occur during 2006 at a time agreeable to both 
parties. 
 
III. Project Goal and Achievement Verification 
 
The long-term goal of the Counternarcotics Training project 
is to reduce drug trafficking into Vietnam. The annual goal 
for this year's funding is to have at least one narcotics 
seizure with related arrests directly related to the 
training program from each of the ports that receive 
counternarcotics training, and to achieve a 50 percent 
improvement in the knowledge, skills and abilities of 
training participants.  Progress toward achievement of the 
project goal will be measured in terms of seizure reports 
showing at least one training-related seizure with related 
arrests at each port and KSA evaluation tests done pre- and 
post-training.  Methods of verification of project 
achievement include official records of arrests and 
conviction of narcotics law violators and seizures and 
destruction of drugs. 
 
The goal of the DEA training courses is to assist the 
government of Vietnam to combat and prevent illicit 
narcotics trafficked into Vietnam from outside by elevating 
the skill level of its counter-narcotics offices in tactical 
safety and operational planning.  Additionally, this 
training will foster trust and cooperation between 
Vietnamese and U.S. Law Enforcement Counter-Narcotics 
Agencies including DEA. The outcome of this training 
initiative is expected to enhance Vietnam's overall regional 
strategic plan to combat the flow of illicit drugs, and 
specifically address training needs of the Vietnamese Police 
related to operational planning and officer safety. 
 
Sustainability: 
 
HANOI 00000964  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
 
The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam agrees 
to send participants to this training who will remain in 
their agencies for at least two years. The Vietnamese 
authorities are encouraged to implement appropriate 
legislative mechanisms to facilitate effective law- 
enforcement techniques and use the knowledge from the 
training to implement and enhance counter-narcotics efforts 
throughout the country.  Methods of verification will 
include a six-month follow-up by SODC, the Ministry of 
Public Security of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the 
U.S. Embassy to review implementation and effectiveness of 
the program. 
 
IV. Program Evaluation 
 
Officials of the Government of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam and the USG will meet within one month after each 
training iteration to discuss progress.  A written report of 
such meetings will be prepared and provided to the 
respective parties. 
 
Progress toward achievement of the DEA project's goals will 
be measured by an increase in the skills and abilities of 
participating Vietnamese law-enforcement officers to plan 
and conduct high risk operations in support of arresting 
drug traffickers and seizing illicit narcotics.  The success 
of this project will also be measured, at least in part, by 
the various Vietnamese Counter-Narcotics Units' cooperative 
efforts with the DEA Country Office. 
 
This modification/amendment is done in duplicate at Hanoi, 
Vietnam, this     day of (month) of 2006, in English and 
Vietnamese languages, both texts being equally authentic. 
 
End text of amendment. 
 
MARINE