GVN COOPERATION ON COUNTERTERRORISM

UNCLAS HANOI 000615 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; S/CT E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: PTER PREL VM CTERR SUBJECT: GVN COOPERATION ON COUNTERTERRORISM ¶1. (U) In a meeting with Charge on March 13, Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Duc Hung, concurrently Director of the MFA's America's Department, said that the GVN had taken prompt action on all USG requests for name checks on potential terrorist links since 9/11, including reviewing information for potential terrorist financial assets that might have made their way into Vietnam's banking system and checking immigration records. AFM Hung reported that the Ministries of Public Security and Finance as well as the State Bank performed the checks and that each of the concerned GVN agencies had reported to the MFA that all checks proved negative. ¶2. (U) AFM Hung emphasized to Charge that the GVN is determined to "cooperate fully with the United States" and would make sure that no terrorist is issued a visa. He noted that, concerning counterterrorism, "your goal is our goal." He pledged that Vietnam would continue to respond to all such future requests for cooperation. PORTER