VFM LE VAN BANG OFFERS AMBASSADOR POSSIBLE GOOD

UNCLAS HANOI 000092

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM KIRF OTRA OVIP VM HUMANR RELFREE
SUBJECT: VFM LE VAN BANG OFFERS AMBASSADOR POSSIBLE GOOD
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NEWS, PROPOSES DATES FOR A PM VISIT


1. (SBU) Summary: In a pull-aside meeting at the Asia
Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Halong City January 10, Vice
Foreign Minister Le Van Bang passed the Ambassador proposed
dates in late June 2005 for a visit to the United States by
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and outlined three steps the
GVN believed "could be done" on religious freedom, including
the release of Father Ly and the opening of new churches in
the Central Highlands. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Ambassador and Vice Foreign Minister Le Van
Bang met on the margins of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary
Forum in Halong City (septel) January 10. VFM Bang said he
had traveled to Jakarta with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai
for the tsunami-related summit meeting, and during that
visit they had discussed the PM's possible trip to the
United States. PM Khai, VFM Bang said, would like to visit
the United States during the June 20-30 2005 timeframe. The
PM's visit (the length of which is to be determined but
which will probably not be a ten-day visit) would include
Seattle, New York and Washington, DC, VFM Bang said. The
GVN remains interested in a joint statement or other
document summarizing the long-term framework for the
bilateral relationship, he added, noting that the visit
could be the occasion for the signing of documents "or other
notable progress" on "commercial and economic issues of
interest to the United States."


3. (SBU) Turning to the "CPC" decision, VFM Bang said the
GVN is considering "three actions that could be
accomplished" to improve religious freedom in Vietnam: the
release of a "prominent figure such as Father Ly"; the
opening of more churches and "allowing more space for
unregistered groups to conduct religious activities" in the
Central Highlands; and the release of implementing
regulations for the ordinance on religion that would contain
"clear language" making interference with the right to
worship or belief criminally punishable. The Ambassador
said that all of these actions would be welcome, as would
other steps, including allowing the leaders of the Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) to travel freely. The
Ambassador noted UBCV's Thich Quang Do's desire to travel to
Binh Dinh Province to visit Thich Huyen Quang during the
Vietnamese New Year holiday in February. VFM Bang said he
would look into it.


4. (SBU) VFM Bang closed by saying that he still hopes to
visit Washington in March to work on the PM's trip. He
added that Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan would be prepared
to make another advance trip in May.
MARINE