UNHCR/VIETNAM RELATIONS: "NEVER SO BAD"

UNCLAS HANOI 001502 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PREL VM CB HUMANR SUBJECT: UNHCR/VIETNAM RELATIONS: "NEVER SO BAD" ¶1. (SBU) UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE JAHANSHAH ASSADI BRIEFED CHARGE AND POL/C JUNE 10 ABOUT HIS MEETING EARLIER THAT DAY WITH THE MFA'S NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CONSULAR DEPARTMENT, BUI DINH DINH. ACCORDING TO ASSADI, DINH SPENT UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 01502 101049Z ALMOST A HALF AN HOUR READING TALKING POINTS, EXPRESSING "DISAPPOINTMENT" THAT THE UNHCR HAD "ABANDONED" THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT UNDER "UNDUE INFLUENCE AND PRESSURE" FROM THE US. DINH TOLD ASSADI THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN VIETNAM AND UNHCR HAD "NEVER BEEN AS BAD AS NOW." HOWEVER, DINH SUBSEQUENTLY SAID THAT THE MFA NOW WANTED TO "REBUILD RELATIONS" WITH UNHCR. ¶2. (SBU) ASSADI NOTED TO CHARGE THAT HE HAD URGED THE MFA TO LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE AND NOT DWELL ON THE PAST, WHILE REMINDING DG DINH OF SOME OF THE UNHELPFUL GVN ACTIONS THAT HAD PRECIPITATED THE COLLAPSE OF THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT PROCESS. UNHCR IS NOW EAGER TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON MICRO- PROJECTS TO ASSIST THE 200+ MONTAGNARD RETURNEES (ALMOST ALL OF WHOM WERE "SPONTANEOUS") AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. ASSADI SAID THAT DG DINH HAD AGREED; THESE TALKS MAY BEGIN DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 17. UNHCR HOPES TO BUILD ON ITS SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE WITH MICRO-PROJECTS UNDER THE EARLIER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION, DURING WHICH UNHCR SPENT USD 14.7 MILLION ON ABOUT 700 PROJECTS. ASSADI SAID THAT HE BELIEVES UNHCR WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR THIS NEW PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD NECESSARILY ENTAIL ADEQUATE ACCESS TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS BY UNHCR STAFF. HE SAID THAT HE HAD NOT YET REQUESTED A TRIP TO THE HIGHLANDS FOR HIMSELF, BELIEVING THAT THE TIME WAS NOT YET PROPITIOUS. ¶3. (SBU) ASSADI EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUED CLOSURE OF THE BORDER BY THE RCG, NOTING THAT UNHCR HAD CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AT LEAST 250 PEOPLE HAVING BEEN TURNED BACK IN RECENT MONTHS. HE WAS UNSURE WHETHER CAMBODIAN OFFICIALS HAD ACTED ALONE OR WITH VIETNAMESE COOPERATION. UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 01502 101049Z UNHCR STAFF REMAINS IN RATTANAKIRI AND MAKES REGULAR TRIPS TO MONDOLKIRI AS WELL, HE ADDED. HE URGED THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONSIDER SOON HOW BEST TO CONVINCE THE RCG AGAIN TO RESPECT THE RIGHT OF FIRST ASYLUM. HE REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR THIS PRINCIPLE. PORTER UNCLASSIFIED