VZCZCXRO8028
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1367 3520245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170245Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8870
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH PRIORITY 5395
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0254

UNCLAS HANOI 001367 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ELA (IRWIN, LAWSON) AND EAP/MLS (BLACKSHAW) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM UNSC LE SY EUN VM
 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON 
 
REF: STATE 129978 
 
(SBU) In a December 16 discussion with the MFA's IO Division, Deputy 
PolCouns delivered reftel points, emphasizing strong U.S. support 
for the UN International Independent Investigation Commission 
UNIIIC), Commissioner Bellemare, and the Special Tribunal for 
Lebanon (STL).  Per reftel, DPolCouns urged Vietnam to support a 
two-month extension, until February 28, of UNIIIC's mandate in order 
to ensure a smooth transition to the STL in The Hague.  IO official 
Tran Quang Trung stated that the MFA was aware of the issue, but had 
not reached an official position.  He promised to pass along the 
substance of the demarche to his superiors in the MFA and to 
Vietnam's UN Mission, noting -- as a personal observation -- that 
the request for a two-month extension sounded reasonable. 
 
MICHALAK