Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HANOI2303
2006-09-08 06:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
NAM SUMMIT DEMARCHE DELIVERED: GVN WILL SUPPORT NAM
how-toVZCZCXRO4572 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHHI #2303 2510632 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 080632Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3324 INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1764 RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
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
-------
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
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