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