EAP DAS Eric John's Meeting with Assistant Foreign

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002515

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT PASS TO EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; EAP/EP; DRL

STATE PASS TO USTR ELENA BRYAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV PREL PHUM KIRF PGOV OVIP AMGT ABLD VM HUMANR RELFREE TIP APEC ASEAN WTO
SUBJECT: EAP DAS Eric John's Meeting with Assistant Foreign
Minister Nguyen Duc Hung


1. (SBU) Summary: EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric John,
the Ambassador and EAP/MLS Director Scot Marciel discussed
bilateral relations and regional cooperation with Assistant
Foreign Minister Nguyen Duc Hung on September 27. After
praising the momentum and goodwill that the Vietnamese Prime
Minister's recent visit had created, Hung urged the United
States to move quickly to conclude bilateral negotiations
for Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organization
(WTO). Hung also expressed satisfaction at the progress
made in recent Six Party Talks with North Korea, and noted
China's positive participation in them. He pledged the
Government of Vietnam's (GVN) commitment to quickly
approving the location for the new U.S. Embassy and to
continuing to cooperate on humanitarian, religious freedom
and counter trafficking issues. End Summary.

REGIONAL ISSUES AND THE SIX-PARTY TALKS
--------------


2. (SBU) EAP Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric John, the
Ambassador and EAP/MLS Director Scot Marciel met with
Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Duc Hung on September 27,
the first in a series of meetings on the U.S.-Vietnam
bilateral relationship and cooperation on regional issues.
In response to Hung's opening question regarding U.S.
priorities in the region, DAS John outlined the importance
of bilateral relationships with countries like Vietnam,
Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as that of
multilateral efforts, including the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN),the Six Party Talks with North Korea,
and APEC. Hung expressed Vietnam's satisfaction over the
agreed statement of principles that came out of the most
recent round of Six Party Talks, noting that Vietnam was
pleased to see China's cooperation in the talks.

APEC
--------------


3. (SBU) AFM Hung also wanted to know if it was true that
South Korea planned to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-
Il to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders'
Meeting in November 2005. DAS John said it was unlikely,
and that all invitations to an event like the Leaders'
Meeting must follow APEC protocol. DAS John then pointed
out that there was some concern in Washington that the APEC
2006 schedule for Hanoi had not been made available to
participating countries. The "time seems to have arrived
for this to be clear," DAS John added. He also noted that
the U.S. Senior Official for APEC and EAP/FO Economic
Coordinator Mike Michalak would be visiting Hanoi in early
October to further discuss APEC 2006 with Vietnamese
officials.

ASEAN
--------------


4. (SBU) AFM Hung asked what role the United States saw for
Vietnam in ASEAN, to which DAS John replied that the United
States would appreciate Vietnam's help in moving the ASEAN
agenda forward to more substantive issues. He also asked
that Vietnam push for greater attention to human rights
concerns, especially in Burma. If the United States and
Vietnam could have a consistent message on the importance of
Burma's meeting its democratic commitments, made many years
ago, that would be very helpful. DAS John also noted that
the United States would welcome Vietnam's insights as
preparations unfold for the East Asia Summit (EAS) to be
held this December. In response to Hung's question about
U.S. participation, DAS John replied that the United States
would review the progress of the EAS, particularly with
regard to the substantive goals of the group, before making
any decisions.

THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Turning to the subject of Prime Minister Phan Van
Khai's June 2005 visit to the United States, AFM Hung noted
how big an impact the visit had had on Vietnamese public
opinion, dramatically increasing the people's understanding
of and support for the United States, a fact evidenced by
their generous contributions to assist victims of Hurricane
Katrina. This attitude had continued to grow throughout the
country, and within the Central Government, there was
renewed momentum for U.S.-Vietnam cooperation.
Specifically, Hung named bilateral counternarcotics efforts
as an example of this cooperation, noting that Vietnam would
extend the agreement under which it operates. He also
listed bilateral health projects on avian influenza and
HIV/AIDS as further examples of a strong U.S.-Vietnam
partnership. Referring to the mini-Chiefs of Missions (COM)
conference that concluded yesterday here in Hanoi attended
by the U.S. Ambassadors to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam and
the Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Hung brought up the
importance of increasing humanitarian cooperation in the
region. He singled out the mutual resolve of both U.S. and
Vietnamese officials to look for opportunities for more
regional humanitarian efforts, to further enhance our
POW/MIA fullest possible accounting work.

WTO ACCESSION
--------------


6. (SBU) AFM Hung then moved to the question of Vietnam's
World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, adding that this
was the Prime Minister's and Deputy Prime Minister Vu
Khoan's only real bilateral issue of concern. Hung then
asked what the real reason was for the delay in U.S.-Vietnam
WTO negotiations, noting that Vietnam's leaders could not
understand why nor explain what could be taking so long.
Hung wondered if there was any political motivation in the
United States working against Vietnam's accession. DAS John
assured Hung that there were no political forces working
against Vietnam's accession. In fact, he said, the United
States took Vietnam's accession very seriously and was
working very hard to come to a resolution as soon as
possible. Vietnam, however, must likewise work hard to
address the problems that remained, especially since
accession would ultimately benefit the Vietnamese people
most of all. If the Vietnamese could speed up their pace,
and put a more serious offer on the table, he said, "we will
get there."

TRAFFICKING, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS
-------------- --


7. (SBU) DAS John raised the importance of combating the
trafficking of drugs and people in Vietnam, expressing a
hope that cooperation from Vietnamese law enforcement on
these issues would improve. AFM Hung observed that this
cooperation seemed to be on the right path. After
expressing his appreciation that Vietnam had been taken off
the Majors' List for drug trafficking, Hung then noted his
disappointment that Vietnam was still listed as a Country of
Particular Concern for religious freedom, adding that
Vietnam had made real progress in this area. For example,
the new decree on religious freedom (which clearly prohibits
forced renunciations of faith) had been disseminated to all
authorities and had clarified their roles in the community.
In response, DAS John commended Vietnam's laws protecting
religious freedom, but noted that the problem for the United
States was not with the laws but with their implementation,
especially in the Northwest and Central Highlands. Many
members of the U.S. Congress were particularly interested in
this subject. DAS John also reiterated the U.S. intent to
resume the results-based Human Rights Dialogue with Vietnam
as soon as a U.S. Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human
Rights and Labor was in place.

A NEW U.S. EMBASSY
--------------


8. (SBU) DAS John raised the issue of the new Embassy
property, stressing how critical the timing of Vietnam's
approval for the new location was to the USG budget cycle.
The fiscal year was about to end, and formal approval for
the new building and its location would help to anchor the
development of the bilateral relationship. Hung replied
that all of the ministries had approved the proposal, and
the only remaining hurdle was to obtain the Prime Minister's
signature, something Hung believed they would receive by the
end of the week. He warned that a signing ceremony might
take a few more days to arrange, however.


9. (SBU) DAS John cleared this cable.

MARINE