AA/S WOOD HOLDS WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 001405 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 01405 01 OF 03 030638Z SENSITIVE FOR IO AA/S WILLIAM WOOD, EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM VM CTERR ETMIN HUMANR DPOL HIV AIDS SUBJECT: AA/S WOOD HOLDS WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS -- IN HANOI REF: HANOI 1332 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: DURING A MAY 20-22 VISIT TO HANOI, IO AA/S WOOD DISCUSSED COUNTERTERRORISM, THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC),NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REFORM, THE MONTAGNARDS, MULTILATERAL AFFAIRS, AND THE MIDDLE EAST WITH GVN AND COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM (CPV) OFFICIALS, STUDENTS FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS' INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (MFA/IIR), AND UN OFFICIALS. VIETNAMESE INTERLOCUTORS WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM, BUT SAID IT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE UN FRAMEWORK. THE GVN, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UN, IS MOVING AHEAD TO PROFESSIONALIZE THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. THE GVN IS "STUDYING" THE ICC, BUT APPEARS GENERALLY TO AGREE WITH THE US VIEW. THE GVN DOES NOT SUPPORT SUICIDE BOMBINGS IN ISRAEL, BUT HAS "GREAT SYMPATHY FOR THE PALESTINIANS. VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS APPEALED FOR USG SUPPORT IN THEIR EFFORTS TO OBTAIN A SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2008. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) DURING HIS VISIT TO HANOI, IO AA/S WOOD MET UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01405 01 OF 03 030638Z WITH NGUYEN SI DUNG, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NA) CENTER FOR INFORMATION; PHAM TIEN NHIEN, DIRECTOR, NORTHWESTERN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA DEPARTMENT, CPV COMMISSION ON EXTERNAL RELATIONS; AND WITH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (MFA/IO) DIRECTOR AMBASSADOR DINH THI MINH HUYEN. IN ADDITION, AA/S MET WITH EMBASSY HANOI'S COUNTRY TEAM, PARTICIPATED IN A WORKING LUNCH WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNDP, UNHCR, AND IMF, AND HELD AN OPEN FORUM WITH 65 STUDENTS FROM IIR. (NOTE: IIR IS ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THE DEPARTMENT'S FSI. END NOTE) -------------- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY REFORM MOVING FORWARD -------------- ¶3. (U) THE NA'S DUNG TOLD AA/S WOOD THE NA HAS A "VERY COOPERATIVE" RELATIONSHIP WITH UNDP AND IS GRATEFUL FOR ITS ASSISTANCE IN THE GOOD GOVERNANCE PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS HELPING VIETNAM DEVELOP A MORE TRANSPARENT DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, DUNG CLAIMED. DUNG DESCRIBED THE NA AS "THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTION OF DEMOCRACY IN VIETNAM." THE PROJECT IS ALSO SENDING GVN OFFICIALS ABROAD FOR TRAINING AND TO LEARN HOW LEGISLATURES IN OTHER COUNTRIES FUNCTION. IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES HAVE INCLUDED A CD ROM CONTAINING INFORMATION ON VIETNAM'S LEGAL STRUCTURE AND THE CREATION OF PORTABLE LEGAL LIBRARIES. THESE EFFORTS ARE INTENDED TO CREATE A MORE TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT, DUNG SAID. HE ALSO NOTED THAT, WHILE ECONOMIC REFORMS ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF THE GVN'S AGENDA, HE HAS PUSHED THE VIEW THAT POLITICAL REFORMS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01405 01 OF 03 030638Z ARE A KEY COMPLEMENT TO THIS EFFORT. HE POINTED OUT THAT, FOR THE FIRST TIME, "THE RULE OF LAW IS ACKNOWLEDGED" IN THE COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTION. ALSO, THE CONCEPT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S "LIMITS OF POWER IS RECOGNIZED." ¶4. (U) REFORMING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS A KEY COMPONENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM, ACCORDING TO BUI DUC THU, NA DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMY AND BUDGET. HE ADMITTED THE PRESENT STRUCTURE IS "CUMBERSOME AND NOT VERY GOOD." ALSO, THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS TOO TOLERANT OF CORRUPTION. THU DISCUSSED THE GVN'S PLANS TO DEVOLVE MORE BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROVINCIAL LEVEL. ALSO, PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO REVISE THE BUDGET LAW TO DEFINE MORE CLEARLY RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL REQUIRE ENHANCED CAPACITY AMONG NA MEMBERS AND PROVINCIAL PEOPLE'S COUNCILS, THU CONCLUDED. ¶5. (U) IN CONCLUDING THE MEETING, DUNG EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM AND SAID HE HOPED THE USG WOULD SUPPORT VIETNAM IN ITS BID FOR ELECTION TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2008. -------------- -------------- UN OFFICIALS DISCUSS HUMAN RIGHTS, MONTAGNARDS, HIV -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) AT A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY DCM PORTER, UNDP UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 05 HANOI 01405 01 OF 03 030638Z UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO6721 PAGE 01 HANOI 01405 02 OF 03 030639Z ACTION SCT-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CA-01 CCO-00 CG-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 INSE-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 M-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NRCE-00 NSAE-00 OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /014W -------------- B715E6 030643Z /38 R 030624Z JUN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6640 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEMBASSY SEOUL AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE NSC WASHDC USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/EA/ABLAGG UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HANOI 001405 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 01405 02 OF 03 030639Z SENSITIVE FOR IO AA/S WILLIAM WOOD, EAP/BCLTV COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE AND UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR JORDAN RYAN TOLD AA/S WOOD THAT, HAVING RETURNED TO HANOI FOR A SECOND TOUR (HIS FIRST TOUR WAS 1993-1996), HE WAS STRUCK BY THE DIFFERENCES. SPECIFICALLY, HE NOTED THAT, DURING HIS FIRST TOUR, THERE WAS ALMOST NO DISSENT AND TOPICS SUCH AS HUMAN RIGHTS WERE NOT DISCUSSED OPENLY. THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO, BUT AT LEAST THE TOPIC IS ON THE GVN'S AGENDA. MR. RYAN IS WORKING FOR MORE COLLABORATION AMONG THE UN "FAMILY" IN VIETNAM AND POINTED TO THE RECENT MEETING AMONG UNICEF, UNDP, AND UNFPA AS A SIGN OF PROGRESS. ¶7. (SBU) IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM AA/S WOOD, RYAN ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE SERIOUS HIV/AIDS PROBLEM AND THE CONNECTION WITH INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE. HE COMPLIMENTED THE USG FOR ITS HELP THROUGH USAID AND CDC, BUT LAMENTED THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO "COMPETING" ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE GVN'S MINISTRY OF HEALTH. RYAN SAID THAT STATISTICS INDICATED 1.3 PERCENT OF NEW ARMY RECRUITS ARE HIV-INFECTED. ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF HIV CASES ARE RELATED TO DRUG INJECTING. MR. RYAN SAID MORE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01405 02 OF 03 030639Z HIGH LEVEL COMMITMENT FROM THE GVN IS NEEDED. ¶8. (SBU) VU AN SON, UNHCR HANOI OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, TOLD AA/S WOOD THAT UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ASSADI HOPES TO VISIT THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS NEXT MONTH. THE 905 MONTAGNARDS WHO FLED VIETNAM ARE BEING PROCESSED FOR RESETTLEMENT IN THE U.S. AMBASSADOR BURGHARDT NOTED REPORTS THAT THE CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT RECENTLY SEALED THE BORDER AND TURNED BACK ABOUT 200 MONTAGNARDS. SON SAID UNHCR WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH REPORTS AND NOTED THE FIGURE HE HEARD WAS 500. SON OPINED THAT ULTIMATELY THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO IMPROVE LOCAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS. -------------- CPV: AGAINST TERRORISM, NOT SURE ABOUT ICC -------------- ¶9. (SBU) DIRECTOR NHIEN TOLD AA/S WOOD THE CPV'S VIEW IS CLEAR: "WE FIGHT TERRORISM IN ANY FORM." HOWEVER, THE CPV ALSO BELIEVES ANY OPERATIONS AGAINST TERRORISTS SHOULD BE "IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE UN FRAMEWORK." NHIEN SAID VIETNAM HAS BEEN PLEASED TO ASSIST THE USG. THE GVN HAS RESPONDED ON A TIMELY BASIS TO REQUESTS FROM THE US EMBASSY REGARDING LISTS OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AND BANK ACCOUNTS THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY USED BY TERRORISTS. FORTUNATELY, NO TERRORIST ACTIVITY HAS BEEN FOUND YET, HE SAID. NHIEN NOTED THAT THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM CUTS BOTH WAYS, AND HE APPEALED TO AA/S WOOD TO CARRY THE MESSAGE BACK THAT THE GVN ALSO WANTS THE USG TO DEAL STRONGLY WITH WHAT HE UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 04 HANOI 01405 02 OF 03 030639Z TERMED "TERRORIST US-BASED GROUPS WORKING AGAINST VIETNAM." AA/S WOOD SAID HE WOULD CONVEY THIS MESSAGE BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT. NHIEN ALSO MADE A PITCH FOR AA/S WOOD'S ASSISTANCE IN PREVENTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MONUMENT IN WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD FLY THE FLAG OF THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM. AA/S WOOD SAID HE WOULD ALSO CONVEY THIS CONCERN TO WASHINGTON, ALTHOUGH HE REMINDED NHIEN THAT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS GUARANTEED TO ALL AMERICANS. ¶10. (SBU) CONCERNING THE ICC, AA/S WOOD EXPLAINED THE USG'S CONCERNS AND ASKED FOR VIETNAM'S SUPPORT FOR ARTICLE 98 AGREEMENTS AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROCESS. NHIEN DID NOT COMMENT DIRECTLY ON ARTICLE 98 SUPPORT, BUT ADMITTED THAT, WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNALS IN THE PAST, HE WAS NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH NOR DID HE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ICC CONCEPT. -------------- LIVELY EXCHANGE AT IIR ON MULTILATERAL ISSUES -------------- ¶11. (U) ABOUT 65 IIR STUDENTS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AA/S WOOD ON A RANGE OF MULTILATERAL ISSUES, INCLUDING (1) THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IN CAMBODIA; (2) WHY THE U.S. REFUSED TO SIGN ON TO THE ICC; (3) THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE UN AND THE U.S. IN AFGHANISTAN; (4) THE FUTURE SIZE OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL; (5) HOW TO DEFINE TERRORISTS AND UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED PTO6722 PAGE 01 HANOI 01405 03 OF 03 030639Z ACTION SCT-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 A-00 ACQ-00 CA-01 CCO-00 CG-00 CIAE-00 COME-00 CTME-00 USNW-00 DOEE-00 DOTE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 OIGO-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 INSE-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 M-00 AC-01 DCP-01 NRCE-00 NSAE-00 OCS-03 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 T-00 USIE-00 USSS-00 ASDS-01 R-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /014W -------------- B715EC 030644Z /38 R 030624Z JUN 02 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6641 INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY AMEMBASSY BEIJING AMEMBASSY SEOUL AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE NSC WASHDC USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/EA/ABLAGG UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HANOI 001405 SIPDIS UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 01405 03 OF 03 030639Z SENSITIVE FOR IO AA/S WILLIAM WOOD, EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: N/A TERRORISM; (7) THE ROLE OF IMF-MANDATED ECONOMIC REFORMS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES; AND (6) THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RELATED TO US ACTIONS IN NICARAGUA IN 1986. -------------- -------------- MFA/IO: AGAINST TERRORISM, SUPPORTIVE OF PALESTINIANS -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) MFA/IO DIRECTOR HUYEN TOLD AA/S WOOD THAT, WHILE THE GVN IS AGAINST TERRORISM AND SUPPORTS THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN, ALL ACTIVITIES DIRECTED AGAINST TERRORISM "SHOULD CONFORM WITH THE UN CHARTER AND INTERNATIONAL LAW." HUYEN SAID THE GVN HAS RATIFIED "FIVE" TERRORIST CONVENTIONS AND WOULD LIKE TO RATIFY "THE MAJORITY, IN THE NEAR FUTURE." (NOTE: PER THE GVN'S UNSCR 1373 SUBMISSION, THE GVN HAS ONLY RATIFIED FOUR AND IS NOW CONSIDERING A FIFTH. END NOTE) HUYEN ALSO REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR ACTIONS AGAINST "THOSE VIETNAMESE AND OTHER GROUPS PLOTTING TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AGAINST VIETNAM FROM THE U.S." AA/S WOOD UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01405 03 OF 03 030639Z TOLD HUYEN SAID THE USG WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY FORM OF TERRORISM ANYWHERE. HE ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR VIETNAM'S PLEDGE OF USD 300,000 IN MATERIAL ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION. ¶13. (SBU) CONCERNING THE MIDDLE EAST, HUYEN SAID VIETNAM IS "VERY WORRIED." VIETNAM DOES NOT SUPPORT SUICIDE BOMBING, BUT UNDERSTANDS THOSE PALESTINIANS UNDER OCCUPATION ARE ACTING "OUT OF DESPAIR-THEY HAVE NO OTHER MEANS." HUYEN FURTHER STATED "WE CONDEMN ALL VIOLENCE THAT KILLS PEOPLE." SHE URGED THE USG TO CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO "ACCELERATE THE PEACE PROCESS" AND BRING ABOUT A TWO-STATE SOLUTION-"THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM," SHE OPINED. AA/S WOOD ASKED HUYEN TO RESIST UNBALANCED POSITIONS ON MIDDLE EAST RESOLUTIONS. ¶14. (SBU) ON THE ICC, HUYEN SAID THE GVN'S VIEW IS THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. HOWEVER, THE ICC CONCEPT IS "NEW TO US AND WE ARE STUDYING IT." SHE NOTED VIETNAM'S CONCERN OVER POSSIBLE SOVEREIGNTY ISSUES CONCERNING THE ICC. ¶15. (U) AA/S WOOD HAS CLEARED THIS MESSAGE. PORTER UNCLASSIFIED