A/S KELLY'S BILATERAL MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY FM BIN: REGIONAL ISSUES, BTA, U.S. ACTIVITIST GROUPS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 001245 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EAP, EAP/BCLTV, DRL, PRM, INR NSC FOR EAST ASIAN DIRECTORATE SECDEF FOR ISA/EAP STERN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON ETRD VM HUMANR CTERR SUBJECT: A/S KELLY'S BILATERAL MEETING WITH VIETNAMESE DEPUTY FM BIN: REGIONAL ISSUES, BTA, U.S. ACTIVITIST GROUPS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 01245 01 OF 04 221034Z REF: HANOI 1217 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: ON MAY 17, FOLLOWING ARF SOM MEETINGS IN HANOI, ASSISTANT SECRETARY KELLY ENGAGED IN CORDIAL BUT FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH FIRST DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NGUYEN DINH BIN ON A RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING THE CONTINUITY OF U.S. POLICIES IN THE REGION AND U.S.-VIETNAM RELATIONS. BIN PRAISED THE REMARKABLE PROGRESS MADE IN A NUMBER OF AREAS OF `AGREEMENT' BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY RATIFICATION OF THE BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT. HE NOTED, HOWEVER, AREAS OF `DISAGREEMENT' REMAIN, INCLUDING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH GROUPS IN THE U.S. WHICH SUPPORT ANTI-GVN ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, HE RECITED THE OFT-HEARD REFRAIN THE U.S. HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE "CONSEQUENCES OF WAR", REFERRING PARTICULARLY TO THE ALLEGED CONTINUING WIDESPREAD EFFECTS OF AGENT ORANGE DIOXIN CONTAMINATION. HE SAID THE GVN LOOKS FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE LATE JULY VISIT OF SECRETARY POWELL TO ATTEND SENIOR ASEAN/ARF MEETINGS IN SIPDIS HANOI, SO THAT THE MINISTRY CAN UNDERTAKE ARRANGEMENTS. THE FOLLOWING DAY, KELLY PAID A CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER NIEN. THAT MEETING WAS REPORTED REFTEL. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) ON MAY 17, FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING, ASSISTANT SECRETARY JIM KELLY, ACCOMPANIED BY AMBASSADOR PETERSON, DAS BOYCE, DCM HARTER, EAP/RSP DIRECTOR STROTZ, ECONOMIC COUNSELOR DRY, POLITICAL OFFICER COLEMAN, AND EAP STAFF AID WOLFF, MET WITH FIRST DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NGUYEN DINH BIN, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION AFFAIRS DIRECTOR DINH THI MINH HUYEN, DEPUTY UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01245 01 OF 04 221034Z DIRECTOR AMERICAS DEPARTMENT DOAN XUAN HUNG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR POLICY PLANNING OFFICE TRAN DUC MAU, AMERICAS DESK OFFICERS NGUYEN THI BAO HUONG AND HA KIM NGOC, AND BIN STAFF AID TRAN QUANG TUYEN FOR BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS. SINCE THIS WAS THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR BIN TO MEET WITH THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, HIS PRESENTATION COVERED A NUMBER OF AREAS. SIPDIS ¶3. (SBU) BIN OPENED NOTING BOTH THE U.S. AND VIETNAM HAD 
RECENTLY EXPERIENCED MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGE: IN THE U.S., THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION HAD ASSUMED OFFICE; IN VIETNAM, THE COUNTRY HAD CONCLUDED ITS NINTH PARTY CONGRESS. IN RESPONSE, KELLY ASSURED BIN THERE WOULD BE CONTINUITY IN APPROACH BY THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE REGION AND IN VIETNAM IN PARTICULAR. THE `HOLDOVER' APPOINTMENT OF AMBASSADOR PETERSON WAS EVIDENCE OF THAT IN VIETNAM. KELLY UNDERSCORED THROUGHOUT THE REGION, WHILE "THERE WILL LIKELY BE CHANGES IN TONE," THE APPROACH WITH EVERY IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP WILL REMAIN QUITE SIMILAR AS THAT OF FORMER ADMINISTRATION. HE SAID BOTH PRESIDENT BUSH AND SECRETARY POWELL HAD TOLD HIM TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE IN CONSULTATIONS WITH ASIAN COUNTRIES. THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO GET TO KNOW THESE "FRIENDS" TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF THEIR PROBLEMS, INTERESTS AND PERSPECTIVES. KELLY SAID HE ATTENDED THE ARF SOM MEETINGS TO GET A BETTER SENSE OF THE POLICIES AND ISSUES TO BE IN A POSITION TO COUNSEL SECRETARY POWELL FOR HIS VISIT TO HANOI IN LATE JULY FOR ASEAN ARF/PMC MEETINGS. ¶4. (SBU) KELLY SAID ONLY DAYS EARLIER HE HAD ASSUMED HIS POSITION AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY, YET, HE'D VISITED JAPAN, KOREA, SINGAPORE, AND OTHER COUNTRIES EN ROUTE TO VIETNAM, UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01245 01 OF 04 221034Z AS WELL AS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN TALKS IN CHINA. IN VIETNAM, HE HAD MET REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES. EVERYWHERE HE'S ENGAGED IN TWO WAY DISCUSSION AND EXPLAINED THE PRESIDENT'S THINKING BEHIND HIS MAY 1 SPEECH WITH REFERENCE TO NUCLEAR AND STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS. ¶5. (SBU) BIN SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH KELLY'S INTEREST IN THE REGION AND IN VIETNAM. HE SAID THE NINTH PARTY CONGRESS'S CONCLUSION IN APRIL SHOWED NOT ONLY THAT VIETNAM REAFFIRMS THE DOMESTIC `DOI MOI' OR `RENOVATION' POLICIES, BUT ALSO THAT THE COUNTRY'S COMMITMENT TO OPENNESS TO THE OUTSIDE WILL CONTINUE. VIETNAM STANDS TO SERVE "AS A FRIENDLY AND RELIABLE PARTNER", HE SAID. "WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO DEVELOPING RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. WHILE WE HAVE DIFFERENCES, WE ALSO HAVE COMMON INTERESTS." GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. WILL NOT ONLY SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE TWO COUNTRIES, BUT ALSO HELP PROMOTE REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY. ¶6. (SBU) ACCORDING TO BIN, AREAS WHERE THE U.S. AND VIETNAM HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS INCLUDE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION, COMMERCE, EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE, METEOROLOGY, LABOR, AND HUMANITARIAN WORK. THE BILATERAL S&T AGREEMENT CAME INTO EFFECT ON MARCH 26 AND THE TWO SIDES ARE ACTIVELY PURSUING IMPLEMENTATION. HE SPECIFICALLY PRAISED THE WORK OF THE TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND MENTIONED THAT AGENCY'S SUPPORT FOR DESIGN AND UPGRADE OF THE DA NANG AIRPORT. BIN SPOKE HIGHLY OF U.S. -VIETNAM COOPERATIVE EFFORTS IN EDUCATION, TOO, HIGHLIGHTING THE FULBRIGHT AND INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE EDUCATIONAL TRUST ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR FUNDED BY VIETNAMESE DEBT PAYMENTS TO THE U.S. HE SAID THESE ACTIVITIES WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM. HE NOTED THE RECENT VISITS TO VIETNAM OF CODEL CRANE AND STAFFDEL ATKINS. ¶7. BUT, HE CONTINUED, "SPEAKING FRANKLY PROBLEMS HAVE DEVELOPED AFFECTING THE RELATIONSHIP." THE TWO SIDES NEED TO FIND WAYS TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM IN THE RELATIONSHIP. POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND EXCHANGE NEEDS "TO CONTINUE AND INTENSIFY." HE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF NOVEMBER'S VISIT TO VIETNAM OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. HE HOPED IN YEARS AHEAD FOR OTHER HIGH-LEVEL VISITS. SIMILARLY, FREQUENT CONTACTS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WOULD HELP ADDRESS "EMERGING ISSUES." IN THAT REGARD, BIN WELCOMED THE UPCOMING VISIT OF RICHARD HAAS OF THE POLICY PLANNING OFFICE TO PARTICIPATE IN POLICY TALKS WITH THE GVN. ALSO, BIN SAID THE VIETNAMESE SIDE WAS PLEASED WITH THE PROSPECT OF SECRETARY POWELL'S LATE JULY VISIT. NOT ONLY WILL THE VISIT ADVANCE THE ASEAN DIALOGUE, BUT IT ALSO WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TWO FOREIGN MINISTRIES TO COOPERATE. HE SOUGHT "PROPOSED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01245 02 OF 04 221034Z PLANS AND PROGRAMS" FOR THE SECRETARY TO BEGIN UNDERTAKING ARRANGEMENTS. ¶8. BIN NOTED THE CENTRAL IMPORTANCE OF TRADE AND ECONOMICS IN THE RELATIONSHIP. IT HAD TAKEN FOUR YEARS TO CONCLUDE THE BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT (BTA). THE BTA LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO MOVE AHEAD. ITS IMPLEMENTATION WILL MUTUALLY BENEFIT BOTH SIDES. "WE SHOULD NOT ATTACH DIFFICULTIES OR CONDITIONS TO THE RATIFICATION PROCESS." HE ASKED REGARDING THE TIMING OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE BTA TO CONGRESS. HE SAID VIETNAM IS PREPARING FOR RATIFICATION BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS FOR IMPLEMENTATION FOLLOWING RATIFICATION. THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT HAS BRIEFED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DELEGATES ON THE BTA. "IF THERE ARE DELAYS IN RATIFICATION," HE SAID, "IT WILL CALL INTO QUESTION THE INTENTION OF THE U.S. SIDE." BIN NOTED THE U.S. HAS ENJOYED MFN TREATMENT FROM VIETNAM UNILATERALLY FOR IMPORTS. HE SAID DELAYS IN RATIFICATION BY THE CONGRESS COULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF THIS POLICY. ¶9. (SBU) ON HUMANITARIAN RELATIONS, BIN SPOKE HIGHLY OF THE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON MIA/POW FULLEST POSSIBLE ACCOUNTING, AND NOTED SADLY THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN APRIL WHEN A VIETNAMESE HELICOPTER CONTRACTED BY THE JOINT TASK FORCE CRASHED KILLING A TOTAL OF SIXTEEN AMERICANS AND VIETNAMESE. HE ALSO PRAISED U.S. DISASTER RELIEF AND MITIGATION ASSISTANCE SAYING THE U.S. PROVIDES NEEDED SUPPORT WHENEVER DISASTER STRIKES. HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED, REGARDING THE "CONSEQUENCES OF WAR", THE U.S. SHOULD BEAR "MORAL AND MATERIAL RESPONSIBILITY." THE GVN PROVIDES A UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01245 02 OF 04 221034Z MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR VICTIMS OF `AGENT ORANGE', BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH. A NUMBER OF NGOS, BIN SAID, HAVE BEGUN PROVIDING ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE LEVEL "FALLS SHORT". WHILE HE SAID IT IS NECESSARY TO PURSUE RESEARCH, BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR ARE SO SERIOUS, THE GOVERNMENT FEELS IT CANNOT AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE RESEARCH. HE URGED THE U.S. TO MAKE A "PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTION" TO VICTIMS NOW. FINALLY, HE SAID TWO YEARS AGO THE VIETNAMESE RED CROSS WAS DESIGNATED AS THE ENTITY TO RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR A.O. VICTIMS. ¶10. (SBU) BIN ALSO REITERATED THAT THE U.S. IS NOT LIVING UP TO THE COMMITMENTS THE DEPARTMENT'S SPOKESPERSON MADE IN A DECEMBER 19, 2000 STATEMENT WHICH DEPLORED PRIVATE AMERICAN CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN ANTI-FOREIGN GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY. HE SAID THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE OF VIETNAMESE ORIGIN IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES HARMFUL TO VIETNAMESE STABILITY. HE ALSO TOOK EXCEPTION TO RECENT STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUED HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON VIETNAM, AS WELL AS THE STATEMENT MADE BY THE COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WHICH "FAILED TO REFLECT THE TRUE SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY." BIN ALSO CRITICIZED THE DECISION OF THE U.S. TO ACCEPT FOR SETTLEMENT IN THE U.S. VIETNAMESE CITIZENS WHO "ILLEGALLY MIGRATED" TO CAMBODIA (FOLLOWING THE EARLY FEBRUARY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS). ¶11. (SBU) KELLY RESPONDED BY APPRECIATING THE MANY AREAS OF DEEP COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. HE TOO REGRETTED THE TRAGIC HELICOPTER ACCIDENT IN APRIL. HE COMMENTED THE BEST MEASURE TO IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP IS HONEST DISCUSSION NOT ONLY IN AREAS OF AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO IN AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT. HE SAID THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM REPRESENTED A CASE WHERE THERE WAS A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF COOPERATION AND CONSENSUS AMONG DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE VISIT OF S/P DIRECTOR RICHARD HAAS WILL PERMIT THE TWO SIDES TO CONTINUE THE POLICY DIALOGUE. THE SECRETARY SHOULD ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, KELLY SAID IT WAS NOT YET CLEAR HOW MUCH TIME HE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND IN VIETNAM, GIVEN THE PRESS OF OTHER URGENT INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. ¶12. (SBU) REGARDING THE BTA, KELLY SAID THERE WAS A BROAD CONSENSUS IN WASHINGTON IN FAVOR OF THE AGREEMENT THE BTA ITSELF DOES NOT NEED RENEGOTIATION, BUT OTHER DOMESTIC TRADE ISSUES STILL NEED TO BE SORTED OUT. "EVERY COUNTRY HAS INTERNAL DEBATES OVER RESOLVING TRADE ISSUES." WORK IN THAT REGARD SHOULD BE COMPLETED QUICKLY, KELLY SAID. ¶13. (SBU) KELLY EXPRESSED SURPRISE AT THE PROMINENCE OF THE AGENT ORANGE ISSUE IN THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. HE SAID HE WOULD EXPLORE THE ISSUE MORE. YET AT THE SAME TIME, HE NOTED THAT ILLNESSES ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF EVERY HUMAN'S UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01245 03 OF 04 221035Z LIFE (IMPLYING VIETNAM CANNOT ATTRIBUTE THE LION'S SHARE OF ILLNESS IN THE COUNTRY TO THE EFFECTS OF RESIDUAL DIOXIN FROM AGENT ORANGE SPRAYING FROM THE WAR PERIOD). KELLY ADDED THAT THE U.S. POLICY ON AGENT ORANGE REMAINS THAT WE BACK FURTHER RESEARCH AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO MOVE AHEAD ON THE PROPOSALS WE HAVE MADE. ¶14. (SBU) KELLY SAID U.S. ASSISTANCE TO MONTAGNARDS WHO FLED TO CAMBODIA FROM THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WAS FULLY CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND U.S. POLICY. FURTHERMORE, HE URGED THE GVN TO PERMIT CONSISTENT AND REGULAR ACCESS TO THE AREA BY EMBASSY OFFICERS. THIS WOULD BRING THE SITUATION THERE TO LIGHT, PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND UNDERSTANDING. BIN REPLIED LATER IN THE MONTH DIPLOMATS (AS A GROUP) HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TRAVEL TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS. ON THE MATTER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S DECEMBER 19 STATEMENT, KELLY AND AMBASSADOR PETERSON REAFFIRMED THAT IT WAS OUR POLICY TO ATTEMPT TO PREVENT AMERICANS FROM INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ABROAD. THAT THIS WAS A GENERAL U.S. POLICY AND THE STATEMENT WAS MEANT NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE ASSURANCES TO VIETNAM, BUT ALSO CAMBODIA AND LAOS. WHILE NOTING CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS PERMITTING FREE SPEECH, THE KELLY AND THE AMBASSADOR INDICATED THERE ARE CASES WHEN THE U.S. WILL ACT AGAINST ANTI-FOREIGN REGIME ACTIVITY. IN THAT REGARD, KELLY NOTED SOME U.S. CITIZENS INVOLVED IN EUROPEAN TERRORISM WERE PUT ON THE TERRORIST LIST. ¶15. (SBU) AS KELLY EXPRESSED THE USG'S DESIRE TO BEGIN PROCESSING OF FORMER U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (U-11 CASES) REMAINING UNDER THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAM. HE NOTED UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01245 03 OF 04 221035Z VIETNAM'S AGREEMENT IN 1999 TO ALLOW US TO DO SO LATER THAT YEAR. WHEN VICE MINISTER BIN RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE U.S. DELAYED THE PROCESSING UNTIL NOW, AMBASSADOR PETERSON PROVIDED BACKGROUND ON THE SUBJECT AND URGED HANOI TO PERMIT THE EARLIER AGREEMENT TO STAND. BIN SAID HE APPRECIATED THE AMBASSADOR'S EXPLANATION AND WOULD MAKE SURE OTHER CONCERNED OFFICIALS UNDERSTOOD THE U.S. EXPLANATION. COMMENT -------------- ¶16. (SBU) THERE WAS LITTLE OF SURPRISE IN DEPUTY MINISTER BIN'S BRIEFING TO ASSISTANT SECRETARY KELLY ON THE STATE OF U.S.-VIETNAM RELATIONS; THESE SAME ISSUES COME UP TIME AND AGAIN BETWEEN MFA OFFICIALS AND EMBASSY OFFICERS. WE CONTINUE TO SEE EYE-TO-EYE ON SOME THINGS: E.G., TRADE, S&T COOPERATION, DISASTER MITIGATION, DEMINING, A LABOR DIALOGUE, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION COOPERATION. WHILE AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT (E.G., AGENT ORANGE) REMAIN INTRACTABLE, WE CAN DISCUSS THE ISSUES AND SHARE PROPOSALS WHICH HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WILL MOVE THE AGENDA FORWARD. WE CONCUR IN BIN'S SUGGESTION THAT BOTH SIDES INCREASE CONTACTS AND DIALOGUE AS A MEANS OF FURTHER ADVANCING THE RELATIONSHIP. NB: THE KELLY/BIN MEETING TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO EMBASSY LEARNING THAT THE GVN HAD ARRESTED HUE-BASED DISSIDENT PRIEST FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY. KELLY MET THE FOLLOWING DAY IN A LESS FORMAL AND BRIEFER MEETING FORMAT WITH FOREIGN MINISTER NIEN AND DISCUSSED THAT INCIDENT. SEE REFTEL. END COMMENT. ¶17. (U) ASSISTANT SECRETARY KELLY DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS MESSAGE PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FROM HANOI. PETERSON UNCLASSIFIED