VZCZCXRO3965
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0736 1720910
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200910Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8053
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4879
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0057
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 000736 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM VM
SUBJECT: GVN and the Vatican Discuss Normalization, Property Issues 
 
Refs: A) HANOI 0278, B) HANOI 0448, C) 07 HANOI 275 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The recent visit of a Vatican delegation for talks 
with the Government of Vietnam (GVN) did not result in any tangible 
progress on the issue of normalization of relations, although the 
issue was discussed.  Discussions also addressed practical concerns 
of the Vietnamese Catholic community - particularly restraints on 
appointment of bishops and enrollment in seminaries and disputes 
over former Church properties.  Despite Prime Minister Nguyen Tan 
Dung's 2007 visit to the Vatican, there was no indication that a 
reciprocal Papal visit to Vietnam is in the works.  This recent 
delegation, the 15th in a series of such visits to Vietnam, 
highlights the commitment that both sides attach to working through 
issues affecting Vietnam's Catholic community, the second largest in 
Asia.  End summary. 
 
GVN-Vatican Relations: An Ongoing Dialogue 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) On June 9-15, Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Under-secretary for 
Relations with States, led a Vatican delegation to Vietnam to meet 
with GVN officials and the Vietnamese Catholic community in Hanoi, 
Ho Chi Minh City, and the Central Highlands.  Vatican delegations 
have regularly visited Vietnam for informal talks, making a total of 
fourteen trips since 1989.  In the past, talks have produced some 
concessions, with the GVN easing restraints on the appointment of 
bishops and the enrollments in Vietnamese seminaries.  In 2007, 
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the Vatican and 
met with Pope Benedict XVI; however, details regarding progress on 
normalization of bilateral relations have not been reported 
publicly. 
 
Key Issues for Vietnam's Catholics Discussed 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) The Vatican delegation met with Vietnam's Deputy Prime 
Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, as well as with 
Committee for Religious Affairs (CRA) Chairman Nguyen The Doanh, the 
Episcopal Council of the Vietnam Catholic Church, and the Hanoi 
People's Committee.  According to a communique released by the 
Vatican, the two sides discussed a variety of issues including 
Episcopal appointments, normalization of bilateral relations, and 
the ongoing property dispute related to the Papal Nuncio property in 
Hanoi (ref A).  The Vatican release went on to confirm that "the 
Working Group charged with defining terms and means [for the 
normalization of relations] will begin its work as soon as 
possible."  However, Mr. Trinh Dinh Hung, Deputy Director, Europe 
Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that while the 
Vatican side is ready to launch the Working Group, the Vietnamese 
side is "not ready yet."  Mr. Hung did reveal that the Vietnamese 
side to the Working Group will be lead by a high level Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs official, "perhaps a Deputy Minister or Vice 
Minister." 
 
¶4. (U) Mr. Hung, who participated in the GVN-Vatican meetings, 
confirmed that the two sides discussed the ongoing land dispute 
related to the Papal Nuncio property in Hanoi in meetings with CRA 
and with Chairman Thao of the Hanoi People's Committee, stating that 
the final decision will come from the Hanoi People's Committee.  He 
declined to make any prediction as to the timing of such a decision. 
 The Vatican statement characterized the discussions regarding the 
disputed property as frank and cordial and emphasized the 
"importance of continuing to pacify the situation, avoiding measures 
that may create contrary effects, and to maintain dialogue between 
interested parties in the search for adequate solutions." 
 
¶5. (U) The trip included a visit to Quang Tri province, where the 
Vatican delegation thanked local authorities on the decision to 
return land surrounding the shrine of La Vang to the Church (ref B) 
and also expressed gratitude for the "will to face, along with the 
archdiocese of Hue, the outstanding problems for the effective 
implementation of the decision."  A commemorative Mass was held at 
the shrine following the meeting. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment: Regular visits by the Vatican continue to raise 
hopes amongst Catholic followers that Vietnam and the Vatican are on 
the verge of establishing formal diplomatic relations.  Unlike last 
year's visit, however, this year there was no speculation about the 
delegation laying the groundwork for a Papal visit to Vietnam. 
While such visits are a welcome sign of the GVN's intention to 
maintain a regular dialogue with the Catholic leadership, ongoing 
differences regarding land issues, Episcopal appointments and limits 
on the conduct of social and charitable activities likely mean that 
the achievement of full normalized relations is still a long way 
off.  End comment. 
 
MICHALAK