VZCZCXRO8020
PP RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #2051/01 2231211
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111211Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3042
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 1641

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002051 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KIRF UN EAID VM
 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PEACE CORPS, UNGA 
AND OTHER ISSUES WITH MFA 
 
REF: STATE 129973 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On August 10, the Ambassador discussed the upcoming visit 
of United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious 
Freedom John Hanford with Acting Director General Pham Van Que of 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Americas Department. 
Regarding USG concerns about the slow pace of registration of 
Protestants in the north and other issues, the Acting DG asserted 
that the USG should take a broader view of religious freedom 
developments in Vietnam and not focus on "narrow problems" when 
making its upcoming CPC decision.  The Ambassador also encouraged 
the MFA to sign a country agreement regarding the establishment of a 
Peace Corps program in Vietnam and to allow the initial program to 
consist of 30 volunteers rather than the GVN's desired ten. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On other issues, Que noted that the Foreign Minister is 
still  considering attending the UN General Assembly in September 
and reiterated the Minister's request to meet with the Secretary in 
the event he does attend.  Que expressed the GVN's concern about 
California's recent decision to honor the flag of South Vietnam. 
Finally, Que urged the USG to take seriously the case of Nguyen Huu 
Chanh, "as he is a terrorist."  End Summary. 
 
¶3. (SBU) On August 10, the Ambassador met with Pham Van Que, Acting 
Director General of the MFA's Americas Department, to discuss the 
August 14-18 visit to Vietnam of United States Ambassador-at-Large 
for International Religious Freedom John Hanford.  Drawing from 
points in reftel, the Ambassador stated that the USG is impressed 
with the GVN's progress to date on religious freedom, but noted four 
areas of continuing concern:  1) slow progress in the registration 
of Protestant groups in northern Vietnam and the Northwest 
Highlands; 2) inconsistent implementation of the GVN's new framework 
on religion; 3) religious dissident Ma Van bay's continued 
incarceration; and, 4) the GVN's failure to present a 
province-by-province breakdown of religious freedom developments in 
Vietnam as promised during the February Human Rights Dialogue. 
Ambassador Hanford has to make a recommendation on Vietnam's Country 
of Particular Concern (CPC) status by mid-September, the Ambassador 
continued.  During his visit, Ambassador Hanford plans to ask the 
GVN for clear indications of future religious freedom actions, the 
Ambassador added. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Que stated that the MFA will check on the status of Ma Van 
Bay, but claimed that he does not know any details about the case. 
Que reported that the GVN's Committee on Religious Afairs is 
currently working on the province-by-province breakdown of religious 
freedom developments s requested, "but it may be difficult to 
producethis report that quickly."  "Ambassador Hanford shuld take 
a broader view of religious freedom devlopments in Vietnam," and 
not focus on narrow problems, Que added.  "Our policy is good, and 
we hae worked hard to implement it," Que stressed, notig that, in 
some cases, "religion is not the reason why some people are 
arrested." 
 
Peace Corps 
----------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Turning to the issue of establishing a Peace Corps program 
in Vietnam, the Ambassador noted that only two issues remain 
unresolved before a deal can be finalized. 
The Peace Corps must sign a country agreement with an appropriate 
GVN partner.  The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has 
proposed that the program begin without an agreement and that it be 
sole counterpart of the Peace Corps.  Neither is practical; the 
Peace Corps cannot operae without a country agreement; and, 
eventually we anticipate that the Peace Corps will work in Vietnm 
in areas other than education.  Therefore, theagreement should be 
with the MFA or the Office o the Government -- bodies which are 
more generalin scope, the Ambassador said.  In addition, the 
initial number of volunteers the GVN is prepared toaccept has 
proven problematic.  Because of the aministrative and logistic 
investment required --normally USD one million dollars -- the 
smallestPeace Corps programs begin with 30 volunteers.  However, 
the GVN will only agree to an initial ten volunteers who would be 
limited to service in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).  It is hard 
and perhaps impossible to justify opening a program with just ten 
volunteers, the Ambassador noted.  We know that the universities and 
technical schools in Hanoi and HCMC would welcome additional 
volunteers," he added. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Que suggested that the Peace Corps send just ten volunteers 
to Vietnam and pay for ten Vietnamese to travel to the United 
States, but the Ambassador explained that such an exchange would not 
be within the scope of Peace Corps activities.  Que responded that a 
country agreement with the MFA would be "too official."  He said 
 
HANOI 00002051  002 OF 002 
 
 
that an agreement with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations 
(VUFO) would be more appropriate for an NGO organization.  The MFA 
is trying to open up Vietnam to the Peace Corps, he continued, and 
the GVN has already actively debated the Peace Corps program's size 
and the appropriate partner organization.  "You understand why it is 
difficult," Que said.  The Ambassador replied that the Peace corps 
is not an NGO, it is a Presidential program, and it would be 
difficult for us to justify such a small start.  He urged Que to 
find a way to revisit the size issue. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Que noted that the PRC limited the initial Peace Corps 
program in China.  The Ambassador rejoined that China's limitations 
were purely geographical and pledged to check at what level the PRC 
signed a country agreement with the Peace Corps.  Que also asked for 
a copy of a draft country agreement so that the MFA can "understand 
the issue better."  The Ambassador promised that the Embassy will 
send a draft agreement to the MFA. 
 
UNGA 
---- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Que told the Ambassador that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign 
Minister Pham Gia Khiem is still considering attending the UN 
General Assembly meeting in New York in September.  If he attends 
the session, Khiem would like to meet with the Secretary, Que added. 
 The Ambassador promised to convey this request to the Department, 
but noted that there would be many demands on the Secretary's time 
during that period.  He also reminded Que that DPM Khiem and the 
Secretary had a productive meeting in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
The Flag of South Vietnam 
------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Que also noted that a recent issue that the GVN is 
concerned about is the decision of Governor Schwarzenegger to 
recognize by gubernatorial order the flag of the Republic of 
Vietnam.  "This is not good news in Vietnam," he lamented.  He also 
noted that a number of Vietnamese-Americans are pushing for a 
similar resolution in the California legislature.  The Ambassador 
noted that the Department is actively considering our response to 
the issue, but noted that all Americans have the right to express 
their opinions. 
 
Nguyen Huu Chanh 
---------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Que also raised the GVN's displeasure over Nguyen Huu 
Chanh's recent return to California from South Korea.  In the GVN's 
opinion, Chanh is a terrorist.  "We often place individuals on to 
our blacklist when you give us derogatory information about their 
activities, so you should take our request about Chanh seriously," 
he urged.  In addition, Que expressed concern about the case against 
Ly Tong in Thailand.  Tong is awaiting possible extradition to 
Vietnam, and the GVN hopes that the United States will not intervene 
in this matter, Que said.  The Ambassador noted that the latter case 
is purely a matter between the Royal Thai Government and the GVN, 
adding that, to his knowledge, the USG has no plans to intervene in 
this case. He also promised to convey the GVN authorities' views on 
Chanh to the concerned parties in the United States. 
 
MARINE