UN REFORM NAM/G77: VIETNAM

UNCLAS HANOI 001252 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KUNR PREL UNGA VM SUBJECT: UN REFORM NAM/G77: VIETNAM REF: STATE 83898 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Organizations Expert Pham Vinh Quang on May 25. More senior officials (Deputy Director General and Director General/Assistant Minister) in the International Organizations Department were unavailable to receive us because of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's visit to Hanoi. ¶2. (SBU) Quang received the demarche and said the GVN will "take note" of the U.S. position. He said Foreign Minister Nguyen Dzy Nien will be briefed on the U.S. position on the issue before he departs for the NAM Ministerial this weekend. Vietnam shares U.S. concerns on the issues of strengthening the efficiency, democracy and transparency of the UN and its agencies, and is supportive of specific initiatives to promote progress in those areas, Quang said. He advised, however, that Vietnam also shares the G77/NAM point of view on "some UN reform issues." He would not elaborate further on this point. BOARDMAN