VZCZCXRO2009
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #1202/01 1840934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030934Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5762
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH PRIORITY 3318
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0207
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001202 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND DRL/AWH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV VM
 
SUBJECT: EU CHARACTERIZES GVN HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE AS A "MAJOR 
DISAPPOINTMENT" 
 
HANOI 00001202  001.2 OF 002 
 
REFS: 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) In a meeting with Embassy PolOffs, Hanoi-based EU diplomats 
lamented that its semi-annual human rights dialogue with the GVN, 
held on June 28 in Hanoi, was "extremely disappointing" and 
"superficial."  Only Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officers 
composed the GVN delegation, which the EU described as largely 
unprepared and detached.  A detailed EU presentation of its 
57-person list of those imprisoned, detained or missing, which 
focused on female persons of concern, largely fell on deaf ears.  EU 
representatives expressed concern that the GVN has a much different 
perception of what freedom means and does not seem fazed by 
arguments based on international law.  The European Parliament is 
reportedly drafting a human rights resolution on Vietnam.  End 
Summary. 
 
GERMAN AMBASSADOR LEADS EU DELEGATION 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) On June 29, PolOffs met with Hanoi-based members of the 
EU's delegation to the semi-annual EU-GVN Human Rights Dialogue, 
which took place in Hanoi on June 28.  German Ambassador to Vietnam 
Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch led the delegation, which was 
composed of diplomats from several EU member missions in Hanoi. 
(Note:  Typically, the mid-year EU-Vietnam dialogue is attended only 
by Hanoi-based EU diplomats; the end-of-year dialogue includes 
representatives from Brussels and elsewhere.  End Note.)  The GVN 
delegation was composed of 17 members of the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MFA) and led by Le Hoai Trung, the Director General of the 
MFA Department of International Organizations, which has 
responsibility for human rights within the MFA.  The agenda for this 
year's dialogue focused on two primary areas, Freedom of Expression 
and Persons of Concern. 
 
GVN DELEGATION "UNPREPARED" AND UNCONCERNED 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) EU representatives described this year's dialogue as 
"extremely disappointing" and "superficial."  The GVN delegation was 
"unprepared" and "not taking it seriously," although our colleagues 
noted positively that this year's GVN delegation was "much less 
aggressive" than in previous sessions.  The EU representatives also 
expressed great disappointment at learning a week before the 
dialogue that the GVN would only be represented by the MFA, as they 
had also requested additional participation, at a minimum, by 
representatives of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS).  In sum, 
the EU representatives told us that they were not able to make much 
progress in discussions because the GVN simply "has a much different 
perception of freedom than we do."  They also remarked that a few 
times during the talks, it seemed at times like members of the GVN 
delegation were "laughing at us." 
 
EU SUBMITS LIST OF 57 PERSONS OF CONCERN; FOCUSES ON WOMEN 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) On the issue of persons of concern, the EU delegation 
presented a list to the GVN of 57 individuals, including those in 
jail, missing or under house arrest.  It centered its discussion on 
currently detained and jailed female political activists, including 
human rights lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan, journalist Tran Khai Thanh 
Thuy, lawyer and democracy activist Bui Kim Thanh and Tran Thi Thuy 
Tran (a lawyer associate of recently released NED fellow Le Quoc 
Quan).  The GVN's response was that the GVN is focused on stability 
and that these individuals are all "lawbreakers."  Some of our EU 
counterparts expressed the opinion and concern to us that drawing 
attention to individual cases of political prisoners could actually 
hurt the individual's chance for an early release or, at least, give 
the GVN another bargaining chip in future negotiations. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Responding to the EU's presentation, the GVN 
representatives said that Vietnam remains "very engaged" on human 
rights issues, which the EU representatives explained to us was the 
GVN's perennial "excuse" to ensure its continued stream of 
international donor benefits.  The GVN also cited an increased 
number of petitions and complaints from the public regarding public 
services; according to the GVN delegation members, this is a 
demonstration of greater civic participation and "democracy" in the 
running of the country, our EU colleagues said. 
 
GVN NOT FAZED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW ARGUMENT 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
HANOI 00001202  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) On the agenda item of freedom of expression, the EU 
representatives focused their discussion on the lack of freedom of 
the press in Vietnam and the limitations on and persecution of 
journalists.  They cited rights guaranteed under Vietnam's 
constitution and its obligations under the International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights.  Here, the GVN representatives merely 
recited the number of journalists who have permits to work and 
disagreed with the premise that journalists are in any way 
restricted. 
 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORTEDLY DRAFTING RESOLUTION 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Finally, the EU representatives noted to PolOffs that the 
European Parliament is currently preparing a draft resolution on the 
human rights situation in Vietnam. 
 
MARINE