NSC Senior Director Michael Green's Meeting with

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000314

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

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

STATE PASS TO USTR ELENA BRYAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF PGOV OVIP ETRD CASC MASS VM WTO RELFREE APEC
SUBJECT: NSC Senior Director Michael Green's Meeting with
Minister/Chairman of the Government Office Doan Manh Giao

REF: STATE 21232


1. (SBU) Summary: NSC Senior Director for Asia Dr. Michael

J. Green and the Ambassador discussed bilateral relations
and regional strategic dynamics with Minister/Chairman of
the Government Office Doan Manh Giao on February 4. Giao
urged the removal of Vietnam's designation as a Country of
Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom before the
Prime Minister's planned June 2005 visit and called for the
conclusion of bilateral WTO negotiations by then. Giao also
pledged the GVN's commitment to the new religious ordinance,
in letter and spirit, and acknowledged the need for
increasing the pace of legal amendments for WTO accession.
End Summary.


2. (SBU) Following their meeting with Deputy Prime Minister
Vu Khoan (septel),NSC Senior Director Mike Green and the
Ambassador met with Minister/Chairman of the Government
Office Doan Manh Giao on February 4 to continue discussions
about bilateral relations and regional cooperation. Raising
the issue of China's growing role in the region, Dr. Green
emphasized the mutually reinforcing aspect of bilateral
relations among Asian countries and the relations of those
countries with the United States. The evolving architecture
of regional forums including APEC, an East Asian Summit and
Six Party Talks to address concerns about the DPRK's nuclear
proliferation, should all be mutually reinforcing as well,
Dr. Green said. Vietnam is in a good position to positively
influence this architecture as it prepares to host the APEC
Summit in 2006, he noted.


3. (SBU) Dr. Green raised the possibility of an exchange of
notes on a religious freedom work plan for Vietnam (reftel)
that would have as its target the lifting of Vietnam's CPC
designation. He explained that although this would be a
step-by-step process, Vietnam has already shown it has taken
initial steps, and the USG remains confident that we could
have positive dialogue on religious freedom along with a
comprehensive list of other bilateral issues.


3. (SBU) Giao agreed that a work plan on CPC would address
short-term goals of preparing for the Prime Minister's visit
and long-term goals of improving bilateral relations. Doi
Moi (economic renovation) reforms have contributed to many
reforms in the political system of Vietnam, Giao explained,
including a more active National Assembly and the
accountability of the Prime Minister to the National
Assembly. The GVN has also implemented reforms in legal
procedures, transparency of the court system and public
administration. Official gazettes explaining policy changes
have also increased from just 12 per year to 361 in 2004
with ten million copies distributed.


4. (SBU) Giao urged removal of the CPC designation this
year, citing the new religious ordinance that clearly
prohibits forced renunciations of faith. Giao said he
carried this message from the Prime Minister (PM): Vietnam
wants to build a stable, lasting relationship with the
United States. The PM has already asked him to begin
mobilizing relevant ministries in preparation for his trip
to the United States this summer and explore the possibility
of signing MOUs on economic and technical cooperation,
agriculture, maritime transport, military training and
adoptions. These MOUs, combined with work plans, would then
establish a legal foundation to move forward. WTO is
another key issue, and Vietnam hopes to end negotiations
before the PM's visit, Giao stressed.


5. (SBU) Regarding religious freedom, Dr. Green responded
that demonstrating the GVN's commitment to both the letter
and spirit of the new ordinance is imperative to convince
the people of both countries that progress is being made in
the next few months. September would be the earliest
juncture when CPC would be reviewed, but even if Vietnam
remains on the list, the two countries should demonstrate
the intent to move in the right direction.


6. (SBU) Green cautioned that completing WTO negotiations
before the PM's visit would be difficult in light of the
legal changes Vietnam must still enact to be in compliance
with international standards; however, a joint statement or
high level meetings could demonstrate our intention to move
forward. The Ambassador added that Vietnam's accession to
the WTO by the end of 2005 is doable but difficult, and the
key factor is the National Assembly's ability to modify
appropriate laws and provide evidence of these changes to
WTO members. One possible solution would be to construct an
"umbrella law" that would avoid requiring a complete review
of every law in each sector, the Ambassador suggested. This
is a decision for the GVN to make, and we can work together
on either course Vietnam decides to take, he said.


7. (U) Giao concluded that the GVN is committed to
enforcing the ordinance on religion with the "utmost spirit"
and that it takes into account the views of its friends,
including the United States, on this and other issues. He
also agreed that Vietnam must meet international legal
standards to join WTO, but noted the pace of amending laws
would be a challenge. Thirty laws were amended this year
and 42 are expected to be amended in 2005, he noted.


8. (U) Bio note: Giao was born in 1944 in Hue. He graduated
from Vietnam Military Academy as an engineer. After that,
he spent some time working as a teacher at the Academy. He
studied in China, and speaks Chinese well. In 1983 or 1984,
he transferred to the Government Office in the capacity of
China Expert. From 1992 - 2001, he was Vice Chairman of the
Government Office, then was promoted Minister/Chairman in

2001. He speaks little English and does not use it in
official meetings. He was impressive in this meeting, both
in his candor and his apparent willingness to engage in an
exchange designed to find creative solutions.


9. (SBU) Dr. Green cleared this cable.

MARINE