Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05HANOI1971
2005-08-02 10:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

ADDITIONAL ISSUES AT AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH MFA

Tags:  PREL PHUM PREF VM WTO HUMANR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS HANOI 001971 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF VM WTO HUMANR
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL ISSUES AT AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH MFA
ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: A) Hanoi 1941 (NOTAL)

UNCLAS HANOI 001971

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM PREF VM WTO HUMANR
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL ISSUES AT AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH MFA
ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: A) Hanoi 1941 (NOTAL)


1. (SBU) The Ambassador met Assistant Foreign Minister
Nguyen Duc Hung July 28 for a one-on-one discussion at
Hung's request. Most of the conversation was taken up by
discussion of issues related to Vietnam's WTO entry
(reftel),but several other issues also came up.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador noted the intention to send a joint
Embassy-ConGen Ho Chi Minh City team to the Central
Highlands to meet with ethnic minority migrants who were
returned to Vietnam from Cambodia July 20. Ambassador Hung
said the MFA will support and assist with that effort. The
Ambassador raised the ongoing issue of Dak Lak Province's
foot-dragging on issuance of necessary travel documents to
the follow-to-join family members of Vietnamese refugees in
the United States, and noted that Dak Lak's recalcitrance on
this issue could have ramifications for the USG's ability to
secure a waiver of Jackson-Vanik amendment provisions for
Vietnam. AFM Hung had no new information or official
response.


3. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of the Human Rights
Dialogue. He said the USG looks forward to holding the
Dialogue at an appropriate time in the Fall of 2005. AFM
Hung noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looked
forward to making the Dialogue as constructive as possible.
Also on the subject of Human Rights, the Ambassador
highlighted USG concerns regarding the health problems of
prisoner of concern Pham Hong Son and recommended that the
GVN release Son as part of the September National Day
amnesty for humanitarian reasons. AFM Hung said that he
would look into the matter.


4. (SBU) The Ambassador advised AFM Hung of his intent to
meet with released political dissident Dr. Nguyen Dan Que in
Ho Chi Minh City, noting that Que is considering travel to
the United States. AFM Hung replied that Que is a
"sensitive and high-profile case" and stated that he
believed that Que is subject to "administrative
restrictions" for a period of time, perhaps three years. It
is not clear, AFM Hung said, if Que will be permitted to
travel under the terms of his release. At the end of the
meeting, Hung urged the Ambassador not to meet with Que,
suggesting that a staff member do so. The Ambassador was
noncommittal. (Note: the meeting is scheduled for
Wednesday, August 3. End Note.)

MARINE