VZCZCXRO8477
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #2152/01 2351036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231036Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3149
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1681
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002152 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KIRF PHUM OVIP OTRA CASC VM
SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIAL DISCUSSES PRESIDENT'S VISIT, HIGH-LEVEL 
EXCHANGES, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AMONG OTHER BILATERAL ISSUES 
 
REF:  Hanoi 2077 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On August 22, MFA Americas Department Acting Deputy 
Director General Pham Van Que reviewed a number of issues of 
bilateral concern with the DCM.  According to Que, the GVN's top two 
goals for the President's visit are passage of PNTR and removal of 
Vietnam's CPC designation; the GVN also hopes to settle the new 
Embassy land issue before the visit.  DPM/FM Khiem has not yet 
formally decided whether to attend UNGA, but may consider a pre-UNGA 
(and post-Non-Aligned Movement Summit) visit to Washington. 
National Assembly Vice Chairman Truong Quang Duoc is also mulling 
over a visit to the United States in September.  Que raised the 
GVN's strong interest in the cases of "terrorists" Ly Tong and 
Nguyen Huu Chanh; urged the USG to "do something" about the 
inability of three Vietnamese banks to open representative offices 
in the United States; noted that a resolution of the De Pham case is 
in the offing; and, expressed concern about ConGen HCMC officers' 
consular investigations. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The DCM expressed strong concern about the comments of a 
Vietnamese security official in which the "safety" of U.S. Mission 
officers meeting with dissidents was called into question.  He 
stressed that Embassy officers conduct their necessary business in a 
professional and open manner.  On the subject of religious freedom, 
the DCM underlined the importance for the GVN to take specific 
actions over the next six weeks and provide a roadmap on its 
intentions for the next year.  Finally, Que confirmed that prisoners 
of concern Pham Hong Son and Ma Van Bay will be released in the days 
ahead.  End Summary. 
 
 
PNTR and CPC Are Vietnam's Top Goals for President's Visit 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) The DCM met August 22 with MFA Americas Department Acting 
Deputy Director General Pham Van Que, at Vietnam's request, to 
review a number of issues of mutual interest.  Que expressed 
Vietnam's hope that the U.S. Congress will pass PNTR legislation 
before the President's November visit to Vietnam and also remove 
Vietnam's Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation.  The GVN 
hopes that the USG will pursue "high-level engagement" with the 
Congress on the matter of PNTR, and, to that end, State President 
Nguyen Minh Triet will write to President Bush welcoming his 
upcoming visit to Vietnam and "mentioning PNTR."  Que, clearly in 
the drafting chain, asked for our suggestions for subjects to be 
covered in the letter.  The DCM replied that strong commitments to 
fundamental freedoms and hopes for a stronger, more constructive 
relationship would be welcomed. 
 
High-Level Vietnamese Visitors 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Que reported that DPM/FM Pham Gia Khiem is scheduled to 
attend a "Non-Aligned Movement Summit" in Havana that wraps up in 
mid-September.  Khiem is considering a visit to the United States 
between the end of that meeting and his possible attendance at the 
UNGA.  Que emphasized that no decisions have been made on travel to 
either UNGA or the United States, but he asked that Washington be 
alerted to the possibility Khiem may request meetings.  The DCM 
noted that the September timeframe is extremely busy for U.S. 
leaders and officials, but promised to convey Que's comments.  Que 
also said that National Assembly Vice Chairman Truong Quang Duoc 
would like to visit Washington, D.C., and possibly other places, in 
September.  The DCM cautioned that between Congress' election year 
activities and the UNGA, September may be a difficult month to 
schedule meetings. 
 
New Embassy Compound 
-------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Que briefly raised ongoing bilateral discussions 
surrounding acquisition of land for the new Embassy compound, 
stressing that the GVN's goal is to settle the matter before the 
President's visit.  The DCM acknowledged that progress that has been 
made to date and agreed on the desirability of the settlement of 
this long-standing matter. 
 
Vietnamese Banks 
---------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Noting that three Vietnamese banks, including Vietcombank, 
have been unsuccessful in their attempts to open representative 
offices in the United States, Que urged the USG to "take this matter 
seriously."  State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) officials would likely 
raise this matter soon with the Embassy, Que said. 
 
Ly Tong/Nguyen Huu Chanh 
 
HANOI 00002152  002 OF 002 
 
 
------------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) Que also urged the USG to "do something" regarding the 
cases of "terrorists" Ly Tong and Nguyen Huu Chanh.  "You know our 
position on these two individuals," Que said. 
 
De Pham 
------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) On the case of De Pham Lifvenborg, an American citizen 
barred to leave Vietnam while under investigation for possible 
economic crimes, Que said that she would meet again that day (August 
22) with the Ministry of Public Security.  (The Embassy has been 
pressing the GVN to allow Ms. Lifvenborg, who is pregnant, to leave 
the country for medical treatment that cannot be provided in 
Vietnam.)  The MFA is working with others in the GVN to clear the 
way, Que said, to allow her to travel to Singapore within the next 
few days.  The DCM expressed appreciation for the GVN's assistance 
and understanding in this humanitarian matter. 
 
Meetings with Dissidents 
------------------------ 
 
¶9. (SBU) Que noted that EAP DAS Eric John met August 18 with 
Vietnamese Ambassador Chien and raised the issue of MPS officials' 
telling an Embassy Hanoi representative that the safety of Mission 
officers could not be guaranteed should they meet with dissidents. 
(DAS John was responding to our report of a conversation between MPS 
officials and the Embassy - reftel - in which MPS Counter Terrorism 
Department Senior Colonel Nguyen Nhu Huong stated that the safety of 
diplomats meeting with dissidents "could not be guaranteed.  End 
Note.)  Having learned of this exchange via the Vietnam Embassy's 
cable from Washington reporting the meeting with DAS John, Que 
requested further details about this exchange.  The DCM described 
conversation with MPS and underscored our surprise and unhappiness 
over this message.  The DCM added that it is because of our wide 
range of contacts throughout Vietnam that we can credibly report on 
events in Vietnam.  An inability on the Embassy's part to conduct 
this necessary business would have a severe impact on the bilateral 
relationship.  For example, without the ability to analyze with 
certainty developments in Vietnam, the Embassy would lose the 
capability to report improvements in areas such as human rights and 
religious freedom.  Mission Vietnam representatives conduct their 
business in a professional and open manner in all their contacts 
with Vietnamese.  Que did not challenge these points, but added 
that, while the GVN does not forbid Vietnamese from meeting 
"outsiders," some activists and others are "emboldened" by their 
meetings with USG officials. 
 
Consular Travel in HCMC 
----------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) On a somewhat related topic, Que noted that the MFA 
Consular Department's Deputy Director recently met with Embassy's 
Consular Chief to remind ConGen HCMC officers to "obey regulations" 
(septel).  Que said that he had heard that some ConGen HCMC officers 
had behaved "rudely" in dealings with Vietnmanese officials. 
Referring indirectly to the investigative activities of Mission 
officers, Que suggested that if we suspect fraud in visa or 
resettlement cases, then perhaps the USG and GVN can pursue "joint 
investigations."  The DCM reiterated that our officers would 
continue to carry out their duties professionally and appropriately. 
 Furthermore, the USG is concerned not only about fraud in visa and 
resettlement cases, but also in adoption cases, he added. 
 
Religious Freedom 
----------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) Following up on Ambassador Hanford's recent discussions in 
Hanoi, the DCM provided Que with a list of 584 ECVN-affiliated 
congregations in northern Vietnam that had attempted to register but 
had their applications rejected or returned.  The DCM recalled that 
Ambassador Hanford had stressed that progress in this area over the 
next six weeks, along with other steps, would help to demonstrate 
Vietnam's commitment to enhancing freedom of worship. 
 
Prisoners of Concern 
-------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The DCM urged Vietnam to release prisoners of concern Pham 
Hong Son, Nguyen Vu Binh, Phan Van Ban and Ma Van Bay.  Their 
release would send a strong and positive signal, the DCM said.  Que 
confirmed that Ma Van Bay and Pham Hong Son would be released in the 
days ahead. 
 
MARINE