VZCZCXRO5520
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #1932/01 3180738
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140738Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6703
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 3939
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001932 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
Department for EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL BM VM
SUBJECT: GVN LEADERS URGE BURMA'S PM TO PURSUE RECONCILIATION; 
COOPERATE WITH UN 
 
REFS: HANOI 1723; HANOI 1840 
 
HANOI 00001932  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  On November 9, Burma's Prime Minister Thein Sein 
arrived in Hanoi for introductory meetings with GVN leaders. 
According to Vietnamese officials, PM Sein's message focused on the 
Burma regime's cooperation with the UN, its progress on restoring 
order and its plans to transition to a civilian-run government.  GVN 
leaders reportedly urged PM Sein to pursue a process of 
reconciliation that includes Aung San Suu Kyi and other groups and 
to continue cooperation with the UN.  They also explicitly offered 
their own experience of "national reconciliation and global 
integration" as an example for Burma to consider.  End Summary. 
 
A Routine Visit in the "ASEAN Tradition" 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) On November 13, Poloff met with MFA Asia II Department 
Assistant Director Pham Hung Tam to discuss Burmese Prime Minister 
Thein Sein's November 9-10 visit to Hanoi.  PM Sein was accompanied 
on the visit by his Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and 
Planning and Economic Development.  The invitation to visit was 
offered during GVN Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's August visit to 
Burma.  PM Sein's Hanoi visit was also consistent with the ASEAN 
"tradition" of visits by new prime ministers to other ASEAN members, 
explained Tam.  PM Sein's schedule consisted of a working session 
with PM Dung and a courtesy call on President Nguyen Minh Triet. 
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and 
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat, who is 
the GVN chairman of the Vietnam-Burma Joint Commission, both 
attended the meeting between the two Prime Ministers. 
 
Burma PM Highlights "Progress" and Steps Ahead 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3. (SBU) According to Tam, the main topic of the meetings was the 
current situation in Burma.  PM Sein reported that the situation is 
"stable" and that the Burmese government is cooperating fully with 
UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.  PM 
Sein noted that the Burmese government had complied with the UN's 
five conditions: the lifting of martial law; the withdrawal of 
troops to their military bases; the release of 2,800 detainees (the 
remaining 100 detainees continue to be held pending prosecution for 
crimes); the resumption of a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi; and the 
resumption of dialogue with all opposition forces who recognize the 
authority of the Burmese government.  A mechanism has been set up 
for weekly meetings between Aung San Suu Kyi and her designated 
Burmese government interlocutor.  PM Sein also stated that the 
Burmese government is trying to implement its seven-step roadmap to 
democracy.  It has set up a commission to draft a new constitution, 
the product of which will be subject to public comment before being 
submitted for a referendum.  Once the new constitution is adopted, 
PM Sein said a civilian government will be formed and the military 
will "withdraw from the scene." 
 
GVN Urges Inclusive Dialogue; Cooperation with UN 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Tam reported that, in response, GVN leaders called for the 
Burmese regime to work towards national reconciliation and offered 
their support for a process of dialogue that includes the 
participation of Aung San Suu Kyi.  They specified that any such 
process must meet the demands of all concerned parties.  GVN leaders 
also observed that, while points of view might differ among ASEAN 
members, Burma should consider that ASEAN has an important role in 
Burma's reconciliation process.  The GVN supports the Burmese 
government's cooperation with the UN Secretary General to date and 
urges further cooperation.  Tam noted that the GVN side stressed 
that, in the past, Vietnam has also been the "victim" of an embargo, 
and as a result does not support the use of embargos as an effective 
solution to "political problems," since they increase the suffering 
of the general population. 
 
¶5. (SBU) According to Tam, GVN leaders also offered two aspects of 
Vietnam's experience as examples that could be useful for Burma. 
First, "national solidarity" needs to be taken into account in the 
process of reconciliation.  Second, Vietnam has actively pursued a 
policy to "deeply integrate" into the region and the world in order 
to aid in national development.  In light of Vietnam's UN Security 
Council seat, PM Sein expressed the hope that the two countries 
would assist each other within the UN framework.  The GVN response 
was that, "as a neighboring country, Vietnam looks forward to this 
cooperation," said Tam. 
 
Burma's Approach to Regional Cooperation 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) PM Sein said Burma will "do its best to prepare" to sign 
the ASEAN Charter at the upcoming summit, reported Tam.  Burma also 
 
HANOI 00001932  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
wants to participate within the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Burma and 
Vietnam) forum and the Strategic Economic Cooperation 
Conference-ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong), which includes the 
above four countries plus Thailand.  (Note: The fourth CLMV summit 
meeting and the third ACMECS conference, planned for Hanoi from 
October 23-26, were cancelled by the GVN, reportedly due to the 
bridge collapse and flooding disasters.  End note) 
 
Bilateral Issues Received Less Attention 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Bilateral cooperation in the form of political, economic, 
agricultural, trade and telecommunications initiatives were 
discussed as a follow-up to discussions held during PM Dung's August 
trip.  Tam noted that no concrete results were achieved.  The two 
sides agreed to a goal of USD 100 million in two-way trade within an 
unspecified time period.  No documents were signed during the visit. 
 The two sides agreed to hold a meeting of their bilateral joint 
commission next year in Burma.  The Burmese PM also extended an 
invitation for President Triet to visit Burma, which according to 
Tam is typical of such visits.  The invitation was accepted, but Tam 
stressed there is no timing in mind. 
 
MICHALAK