VZCZCXRO7972
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0169/01 0451014
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141014Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7170
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4289
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000169 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KCRM PGOV PREL PTER PINS VM
SUBJECT: FBI DIRECTOR MEETS WITH VICE MINISTER OF MINISTRY OF PUBLIC 
SECURITY 
 
HANOI 00000169  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  During FBI Director Robert Mueller's January 30 
meeting with Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Vice Minister Nguyen 
Van Huong, the Vietnamese agreed to simplify and intensify 
information sharing in criminal matters and enthusiastically 
welcomed prospects for enhanced training provided by the FBI.  Huong 
thanked the FBI for information shared with Vietnam concerning the 
cases of Nguyen Huu Chanh and his associates, several of whom have 
been convicted of crimes related to the bombing or attempted bombing 
of Vietnam's embassies abroad.  Huong also briefly outlined concerns 
about groups which call for the overthrow of the GVN.  Vice Minister 
Huong called the Director's visit a landmark step in bilateral law 
enforcement relations, and thanked the Director for inviting MPS 
Minister Le Hong Anh to visit the United States.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III made a short visit to 
Hanoi on January 30, during which he met for 45 minutes with 
Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Vice Minister Nguyen Van Huong, 
who oversees intelligence and counter-terrorism (CT) issues.  As a 
senior MPS official, Huong has been our highest-level interlocutor 
on bilateral law enforcement matters.  He sees himself as the 
architect of our slowly expanding cooperative law enforcement 
relationship.  Ambassador Michalak accompanied the Director. 
 
¶3. (SBU) After opening pleasantries, Huong agreed that the United 
States and Vietnam share similar threats from transnational crime, 
including terrorism, drug trafficking, cyber crime and money 
laundering.  He cited, in general terms, several instances in which 
the FBI and the MPS had cooperated in the past, and mentioned 
contacts with the DEA, but acknowledged that the current level of 
bilateral interaction was "modest."  He praised the FBI as the 
leading agency in law enforcement in the world.  Noting that 
economic growth would expose Vietnam to more types of criminal 
activity, Huong concluded that it is time for Vietnam to work more 
closely with the FBI. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Director Mueller agreed on the benefits of, and need for, 
closer cooperation.  He offered three specific suggestions: (1) that 
MPS agree to meet with the RSO and the Legatt on a monthly basis to 
exchange information on cases of mutual interest, and that this 
information be passed in a less formal manner than the current 
required diplomatic note; (2) that the MPS welcome additional 
training offered by the FBI, including slots in the FBI national 
academy; and (3) that Minister Le Hong Anh accept his invitation to 
visit the United States at a mutually convenient time to exchange 
ideas on the full range of law enforcement issues. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Huong responded enthusiastically to the first two proposals 
and committed personally to brief Minister Anh on the third. 
Concerning information sharing, Huong admitted that the two nations 
had discussed deepening cooperation for several years, but that very 
little had actually happened during that time.  He added that there 
was no need to restrict exchanges to a monthly schedule, stating 
that USG law enforcement officials can come to Vietnam "without 
barriers" at any time there is an urgent need to exchange 
information.  He also urged that both sides make the best use of 
"information technology" to speed communications.  Vietnam hopes, 
through USG law enforcement officials, to be able to access "the FBI 
crime data base," and that Vietnam would - in turn -- share 
information with the United States.  On the suggestion regarding 
training, Huong agreed with the Director that expanded training 
would help each side better understand the other, creating better 
conditions for effective cooperation.  "Vietnam has gained some 
experience in fighting crime," Huong noted, "but we know the FBI has 
much expertise to offer."   He added that Vietnam is now interested 
in joint operations, which training could enable.  He promised to 
support the in-country training costs for Vietnam officials, adding: 
"you just send your experts." 
 
¶6. (SBU) Huong then thanked the Director for information conveyed by 
the FBI during the previous month concerning investigations 
regarding Nguyen Huu Chanh and his associates, who are suspected of 
bombing Vietnamese diplomatic establishments.  He then acknowledged 
Director Mueller's earlier comment that the United States and 
Vietnam do not see eye to eye on all issues, noting that there are 
groups which Vietnam sees as security threats, but that the United 
States considers benign.  One such group is the "Viet Tan 
Revolutionary Party," Huong continued.  Director Mueller explained 
the U.S. process of designating groups as terrorist organizations, 
which necessarily involves evidence of criminal activity and 
decisions within the State Department. 
 
¶7. (SBU) In closing remarks, Director Mueller underscored our 
willingness to consider Vietnam's training needs, emphasizing that 
Legatt Laro Tan, stationed in the new FBI office Phnom Penh, would 
be visiting Vietnam on a regular basis and could engage in planning. 
 Huong proclaimed that the MPS has made a decision to "orient" 
itself more closely with the FBI as a priority.  He called for a new 
focus on the "practical aspects" of bilateral law enforcement, and 
 
HANOI 00000169  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
welcomed the chance to speak directly with his American 
counterpart. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: Vice Minister Huong's message - that the MPS is 
ready to engage in a regular, real exchange of information -- was 
clear and repeated several times during the short meeting.  The 
strength of this commitment, which is new in our dialogue, will have 
to be tested.   Our invitation to Minister Le Hong Anh came at the 
suggestion of Huong's people, and may be an element of his internal 
maneuvering to carve out more "space" for exchanges in the to-date 
slow moving development of the bilateral law enforcement 
relationship.  End Comment. 
 
¶9. (U) This message was approved by Leggat Phnom Penh. 
 
MICHALAK