GVN ACCEDES TO ADDITIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTIONS

UNCLAS HANOI 002086 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT AND EAP/BCLTV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL VM CTERR SUBJECT: GVN ACCEDES TO ADDITIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTIONS ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST -- SEE PARA 6. ¶2. (U) IN A MEETING WITH POL/C ON AUGUST 26, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MFA'S DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 02 HANOI 02086 261022Z LAW AND TREATIES NGUYEN TRUONG GIANG CONFIRMED THAT THE GVN HAD NOW ACCEDED TO A TOTAL OF EIGHT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND PROTOCOLS RELATED TO COUNTER-TERRORISM (REFTEL - NOTAL). IN ALL CASES, PRESIDENT TRAN DUC LUONG SIGNED AS CHIEF OF STATE. NONE REQUIRED RATIFICATION FROM THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, GIANG NOTED. HE PREDICTED FAVORABLE DECISIONS ON AT LEAST TWO OTHER CONVENTIONS AND PROTOCOLS WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, AND THE FINAL TWO POTENTIALLY LATER THIS YEAR. ¶3. (U) THE NEW LIST NOW INCLUDES: -- CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF CRIMES AGAINST INTERNATIONALLY PROTECTED PERSONS INCLUDING DIPLOMATIC AGENTS (SIGNED 4/4/02; ENTRY INTO FORCE 6/1/02); -- CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL AGAINST THE SAFETY OF MARITIME NAVIGATION (SIGNED 6/26/02; ENTRY INTO FORCE 9/20/02); -- PROTOCOL FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST THE SAFETY OF FIXED PLATFORMS LOCATED ON THE CONTINENTAL SHELF (ALSO SIGNED 6/26/02; ENTRY INTO FORCE 9/20/02); AND, -- CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF FINANCING OF TERRORISM (SIGNED 8/20/02; GIANG DID NOT HAVE AVAILABLE DETAILS ABOUT ITS ENTRY INTO FORCE DATE). ¶4. (U) GIANG CONFIRMED THAT THE MFA HAD NOTIFIED THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL OF THESE ACTIONS IN COMPLIANCE WITH UNSCR 1373, AND ADDED THAT THE MFA EXPECTED THE UN TO NOTIFY MEMBER STATES. ¶5. (U) POL/C STRONGLY WELCOMED THESE POSITIVE STEPS, NOTING THAT THE U.S. HAD NOW RATIFIED AND BECOME A PARTY TO UNCLASSIFIED PAGE 03 HANOI 02086 261022Z ALL TWELVE CONVENTIONS. HE ENCOURAGED THE MFA TO BE EVEN MORE FORTHCOMING WITH INFORMATION ABOUT ITS RATIFICATION PROCESS, SO THAT U.S. LEADERS COULD PROVIDE APPROPRIATE FEEDBACK TO THEIR VIETNAMESE COUNTERPARTS. DDG GIANG REITERATED VIETNAM'S "LONG-STANDING" COMMITMENT TO FIGHTING TERRORISM AND ITS DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON THIS ISSUE. ¶6. (U) ACTION REQUEST: DDG GIANG REQUESTED USG VIEWS ON THE INDIAN INITIATIVE SEVERAL YEARS AGO FOR A COMPREHENSIVE CONVENTION AGAINST TERRORISM. HE NOTED THAT THIS SEEMED PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO ONGOING INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS. PLEASE ADVISE. PORTER UNCLASSIFIED