AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PEACE CORPS, UNGA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002051 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER KIRF UN EAID VM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, PEACE CORPS, UNGA AND OTHER ISSUES WITH MFA REF: STATE 129973 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On August 10, the Ambassador discussed the upcoming visit of United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford with Acting Director General Pham Van Que of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Americas Department. Regarding USG concerns about the slow pace of registration of Protestants in the north and other issues, the Acting DG asserted that the USG should take a broader view of religious freedom developments in Vietnam and not focus on "narrow problems" when making its upcoming CPC decision. The Ambassador also encouraged the MFA to sign a country agreement regarding the establishment of a Peace Corps program in Vietnam and to allow the initial program to consist of 30 volunteers rather than the GVN's desired ten. ¶2. (SBU) On other issues, Que noted that the Foreign Minister is still considering attending the UN General Assembly in September and reiterated the Minister's request to meet with the Secretary in the event he does attend. Que expressed the GVN's concern about California's recent decision to honor the flag of South Vietnam. Finally, Que urged the USG to take seriously the case of Nguyen Huu Chanh, "as he is a terrorist." End Summary. ¶3. (SBU) On August 10, the Ambassador met with Pham Van Que, Acting Director General of the MFA's Americas Department, to discuss the August 14-18 visit to Vietnam of United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford. Drawing from points in reftel, the Ambassador stated that the USG is impressed with the GVN's progress to date on religious freedom, but noted four areas of continuing concern: 1) slow progress in the registration of Protestant groups in northern Vietnam and the Northwest Highlands; 2) inconsistent implementation of the GVN's new framework on religion; 3) religious dissident Ma Van bay's continued incarceration; and, 4) the GVN's failure to present a province-by-province breakdown of religious freedom developments in Vietnam as promised during the February Human Rights Dialogue. Ambassador Hanford has to make a recommendation on Vietnam's Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status by mid-September, the Ambassador continued. During his visit, Ambassador Hanford plans to ask the ;GVN for clear indications of future religious freedom actions, the Ambassador added. ¶4. (SBU) Que stated that the MFA will check on the status of Ma Van Bay, but claimed that he does not know any details about the case. Que reported that the GVN's Committee on Religious Afairs is currently working on the province-by-province breakdown of religious freedom developments s requested, "but it may be difficult to producethis report that quickly." "Ambassador Hanford shuld take a broader view of religious freedom devlopments in Vietnam," and not focus on narrow problems, Que added. "Our policy is good, and we hae worked hard to implement it," Que stressed, notig that, in some cases, "religion is not the reason why some people are arrested." Peace Corps -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Turning to the issue of establishing a Peace Corps program in Vietnam, the Ambassador noted that only two issues remain unresolved before a deal can be finalized. The Peace Corps must sign a country agreement with an appropriate GVN partner. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has proposed that the program begin without an agreement and that it be sole counterpart of the Peace Corps. Neither is practical; the Peace Corps cannot operae without a country agreement; and, eventually we anticipate that the Peace Corps will work in Vietnm in areas other than education. Therefore, theagreement should be with the MFA or the Office o the Government -- bodies which are more generalin scope, the Ambassador said. In addition, the initial number of volunteers the GVN is prepared toaccept has proven problematic. Because of the aministrative and logistic investment required --normally USD one million dollars -- the smallestPeace Corps programs begin with 30 volunteers. However, the GVN will only agree to an initial ten volunteers who would be limited to service in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). It is hard and perhaps impossible to justify opening a program with just ten volunteers, the Ambassador noted. We know that the universities and technical schools in Hanoi and HCMC would welcome additional volunteers," he added. ¶6. (SBU) Que suggested that the Peace Corps send just ten volunteers to Vietnam and pay for ten Vietnamese to travel to the United States, but the Ambassador explained that such an exchange would not be within the scope of Peace Corps activities. Que responded that a country agreement with the MFA would be "too official." He said HANOI 00002051 002 OF 002 that an agreement with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) would be more appropriate for an NGO organization. The MFA is trying to open up Vietnam to the Peace Corps, he continued, and the GVN has already actively debated the Peace Corps program's size and the appropriate partner organization. "You understand why it is difficult," Que said. The Ambassador replied that the Peace corps is not an NGO, it is a Presidential program, and it would be difficult for us to justify such a small start. He urged Que to find a way to revisit the size issue. ¶7. (SBU) Que noted that the PRC limited the initial Peace Corps program in China. The Ambassador rejoined that China's limitations were purely geographical and pledged to check at what level the PRC signed a country agreement with the Peace Corps. Que also asked for a copy of a draft country agreement so that the MFA can "understand the issue better." The Ambassador promised that the Embassy will send a draft agreement to the MFA. UNGA -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Que told the Ambassador that Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem is still considering attending the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September. If he attends the session, Khiem would like to meet with the Secretary, Que added. The Ambassador promised to convey this request to the Department, but noted that there would be many demands on the Secretary's time during that period. He also reminded Que that DPM Khiem and the Secretary had a productive meeting in Kuala Lumpur two weeks ago. SIPDIS The Flag of South Vietnam -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Que also noted that a recent issue that the GVN is concerned about is the decision of Governor Schwarzenegger to recognize by gubernatorial order the flag of the Republic of Vietnam. "This is not good news in Vietnam," he lamented. He also noted that a number of Vietnamese-Americans are pushing for a similar resolution in the California legislature. The Ambassador noted that the Department is actively considering our response to the issue, but noted that all Americans have the right to express their opinions. Nguyen Huu Chanh -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Que also raised the GVN's displeasure over Nguyen Huu Chanh's recent return to California from South Korea. In the GVN's opinion, Chanh is a terrorist. "We often place individuals on to our blacklist when you give us derogatory information about their activities, so you should take our request about Chanh seriously," he urged. In addition, Que expressed concern about the case against Ly Tong in Thailand. Tong is awaiting possible extradition to Vietnam, and the GVN hopes that the United States will not intervene in this matter, Que said. The Ambassador noted that the latter case is purely a matter between the Royal Thai Government and the GVN, adding that, to his knowledge, the USG has no plans to intervene in this case. He also promised to convey the GVN authorities' views on Chanh to the concerned parties in the United States. MARINE