VZCZCXRO1028
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1072 2811033
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 081031Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0288
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0089

UNCLAS HANOI 001072 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON VM
SUBJECT: Vietnam's Inspector General Expresses Interest in 
Cooperating to Combat Corruption 
 
¶1. (U) This is an Action Request.  Please see paragraph 10. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador and Inspector General Tran Van 
Truyen explored anti-corruption cooperation during their September 
16 meeting.  Truyen requested cooperation in two areas: ethics 
training for inspectors, and identifying a U.S. counterpart agency. 
He predicted more anti-corruption action as Vietnamese leaders 
jockey to prove their willingness to fight corruption before the 
Party Congress in January 2011.  The Ambassador reiterated DOJ's 
offer to assist Vietnam investigate charges of corruption against a 
former executive of Nexus Technology.  End summary. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador called on Inspector General Tran Van Truyen 
on September 16 to discuss the GVN's anti-corruption efforts and 
explore future areas of cooperation.  After discussing Truyen's 
participation in a VOLVIS program on the role of government and 
civil society in combating corruption last April, the Ambassador 
and Truyen exchanged ideas on concrete steps to strengthen 
bilateral anti-corruption cooperation.  Truyen said he wants to 
establish a long-term relationship with a single U.S. government 
agency with a similar mandate, to exchange information and ideas 
about combating corruption.  The Ambassador cautioned the USG does 
not have a natural single counterpart, but is willing to assist in 
indentifying a possible partner. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Drawing upon his experience during his VOLVIS program, 
Truyen said he was impressed with ethics training received by U.S. 
local and federal government employees.  According to Truyen, all 
ministries have a code of conduct and training is mandatory for all 
civil servants.  However, the training would be more effective if 
it included U.S.-style ethics training. Surprisingly, Truyen 
offered that Vietnam could learn from the U.S. experience of 
working with civil society organizations on anti-corruption 
measures and welcomed further ideas for cooperation in this area. 
The Ambassador promised to follow-up with Washington agencies. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Responding to a question from the Ambassador, Truyen noted 
that corruption remains a sensitive topic and predicted it will be 
a significant issue next year in the lead up to the 2011 Party 
Congress.  Truyen commented his office would prepare an 
anti-corruption report for the Prime Minister for discussion during 
the Party Congress.  He added that the GVN must now make good on 
its promise to update laws, promote transparency and good 
governance now that it has ratified the UN Convention on 
Anti-corruption.  The Ambassador welcomed Truyen's interested and 
recommended they pursue the idea in greater detail. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the case of a former executive of 
the Philadelphia-based Nexus Technology Corporation who pleaded 
guilty to charges related to his participation in a conspiracy to 
bribe Vietnamese government officials in violation of the Foreign 
Corrupt Practices Act, reiterating DOJ's July offer to share 
information on the case.  Truyen said the Prime Minister had 
instructed the MFA to respond to the letter, if there was 
sufficient information to warrant it. 
 
¶7. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: We welcome Truyen's interest in exploring 
anti-cooperation and believe the Party's concern about corruption 
between now and the Party Congress could create an opening for us 
to deepen cooperation.  Along these lines, Post would appreciate 
suggestions for responding to Truyen's request for assistance in 
creating U.S.-style ethics training course for Vietnamese 
inspectors and indentifying a possible USG anti-corruption 
counterpart. 
Palmer