COUNTERNARCOTICS LOA: NOW IN EFFECT

UNCLAS HANOI 001193 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, INL/AAE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL VM CNARC SUBJECT: COUNTERNARCOTICS LOA: NOW IN EFFECT ¶1. (U) In a diplomatic note dated April 26, the MFA officially informed Embassy that the Counternarcotics Letter of Agreement signed in English in December 2003 and in Vietnamese in February 2004 is now in effect. (Text in para 3.) ¶2. (U) Embassy will now work with the Standing Office of Drug Control on details of program implementation. A team from US Customs plans first to come to Hanoi in early June to discuss its project under the LOA. Embassy cautions, however, that this agreement is limited: it allows for U.S.- Vietnam cooperation in the area of training and assistance only. Actual operational cooperation is not covered. While the agreement is definitely a step in the right direction, we remain a long way from real bilateral counternarcotics cooperation with the GVN. ¶3. (U) Text (MFA's non-official translation) No. 159/NG-LPQT The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi and with reference to the Letter of Agreement on Counternarcotics Cooperation between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the United States of America, signed in duplicate in the English language at Los Angeles on 11th December 2003 and in duplicate in the Vietnamese language at Hanoi on 26th February 2004, has the honor to inform the latter as follows: In accordance with Paragraph 10 thereof, this Letter of Agreement entered into force when signed by authorized representative of both Governments, i.e. on 26th February ¶2004. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has further the honor to notify the latter that, for the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Contact Authority for the implementation of this Letter of Agreement is the Standing Office on Drug Control, Ministry of Public Security. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi the assurances of its highest consideration. Hanoi, 26 April 2004 end text BURGHARDT