NAM SUMMIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GVN WILL SUPPORT NAM

UNCLAS HANOI 002303 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNGA PREL PTER PHUM CU VM SUBJECT: NAM SUMMIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GVN WILL SUPPORT NAM CONSENSUS REF: A) State 145242; B) Hanoi 1984; C) Hanoi 1761; D) Hanoi 2019 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On September 7, Poloff met with GVN MFA officials to deliver Ref A's points for NAM summit attendees. These officials indicated that the GVN will support the Guatemalan candidacy. On the issue of terrorism, the GVN opposes any type of terrorist act against civilians. Concerning democracy, they do not expect the NAM Final Document to endorse any country-specific political transition. Finally, concerning the Middle East, the GVN will follow any NAM consensus reached on this language. End summary. Venezuela-Guatemala -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On September 7, Poloff met with MFA International Organizations Department Assistant Director Pham Vinh Quang to deliver Ref A's points for NAM summit attendees. Concerning the UNSC election contest between Guatemala and Venezuela, Mr. Quang said the NAM normally does not take sides on such issues, but rather offers general support for NAM members to obtain UN posts. The Guatemala-Venezuela contest is a regional, Latin American issue. The GVN has been in contact with Guatemala "with positive correspondence," Quang added. (Note: This tracks with previous statements from GVN officials; Refs B and C. End Note.) Terrorism -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Concerning the definition of terrorism in the NAM Final Document, Quang said the issue of excluding acts of "national liberation movements" has been discussed for five years already without reaching a consensus. The desire by some NAM attendees to include such language dates back to the origins of the NAM and the historical connection of many of its participants with national liberation movements. However, this exclusionary language does not reflect the current world situation, and Vietnam opposes any type of terrorist act against civilians, Quang stressed. Democracy -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Because of the NAM's consensus approach, reaching agreement on a definition of "democracy" in the NAM Final Document is also problematic, Quang continued. NAM countries have different definitions, and there is no universally accepted definition. According to Quang, it would be "ridiculous" to include a country-specific reference to the transition of power in Cuba in the NAM Final Document. Middle East -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The GVN is aware of some Arab countries' desire to include condemnation of Israel in the Final Document. Because there is no agreement on this language, it will be set aside and, if no consensus language can be reached, it will be left out in its entirety. The GVN will support the NAM consensus on this issue, but will take no initiative to include this paragraph, nor will it participate in side discussions to reach consensus language. ¶6. (SBU) In a separate meeting on September 7, Poloff met with MFA West Asia and Africa Department Deputy Director Nguyen Van Linh to discuss Ref A's Middle East points. Mr. Linh said Vietnam maintains good political and economic relations with Israel, but that there were many civilian victims in Lebanon due to Israel's military action. The GVN position is that incidents such as the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers should be resolved through peaceful negotiations (Ref D). He also mentioned the NAM's consensus approach and said he would report our points to senior officials. MARINE