AMBASSADOR REVIEWS BILATERAL ISSUES WITH VFM LE VAN BANG

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002435

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

Department for EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV VM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR REVIEWS BILATERAL ISSUES WITH VFM LE VAN BANG



1. (SBU) Summary. On September 20, the Ambassador met with VFM Le
Van Bang to review a range of bilateral issues in the run-up to the
President's visit. Presenting a list of potential deliverables and
next steps, the Ambassador described our hopes for progress in each.
On the issue of establishing a Peace Corps program, the Ambassador
reiterated the need to conclude a detailed agreement, while VFM Bang
suggested the need for a more gradual approach. The Ambassador also
raised the Dalat Nuclear Conversion project, the status of pending
commercial projects, and the need for better bilateral cooperation
in law enforcement. The Ambassador urged that the case of detained
Amcit Cong Thanh Do be resolved promptly. More generally regarding
human rights, he stressed the need for greater transparency in
handling detainees and more accountability for officials guilty of
abuses. In justifying the GVN's arrest of activists, VFM Bang
stressed the need for the GVN to maintain stability, citing the coup
in Thailand and unrest in the Philippines as evidence of the dangers
of dropping one's guard. End summary.

Focus on APEC and President's visit
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2. (SBU) The Ambassador discussed a range of issues with VFM Bang on
the morning of his departure from Hanoi en route to the United
States. The Ambassador noted that the Mission's focus is
increasingly on the President's visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
(HCMC) in November. The Ambassador mentioned that Washington has
begun work on a draft joint statement for the President's visit, and
that in order for it to be a meaningful document, it must highlight
concrete accomplishments, not just include general statements. Next
week, a high-level White House site survey team will visit Hanoi and
HCMC. VFM Bang regretted that he will not be in Hanoi to greet the
White House team, but assured the Ambassador that it will receive a
high-level reception. The GVN is assigning the correct counterparts
to engage the U.S. team to ensure that it accomplishes its mission.


ASEAN meeting with the President at APEC
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3. (SBU) Concerning a meeting for the President with ASEAN leaders,
the Ambassador reminded VFM Bang that the participation of Burma at
any such meeting would not be acceptable. Bang said the matter is
still being discussed and that there "needs to be a consensus
reached among the ASEAN members." Ideally Vietnam would like to see
all ten ASEAN members participate in a meeting with the President,
but - given that this is not feasible - Vietnam may fall back to the
Busan model involving the seven members of APEC that are also ASEAN
members. VFM Bang emphasized the importance of such a meeting. The
Ambassador agreed, noting it is an opportunity that should not be
missed, but that it cannot take place if Burma attends.

Peace Corps
--------------


4. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the establishment of a Peace Corps
program in Vietnam, a key deliverable for President Bush's visit.
He noted that a significant amount of work has already been done,
but that there are still differences that must be resolved. The
Ambassador pressed for GVN agreement to receive a Peace Corps
representative in Hanoi to negotiate a final agreement, and that the
GVN designate an MFA interlocutor. VFM Bang suggested that the GVN
welcomes a follow-on visit, but did not provide details on dates or
the name of an interlocutor.


5. (SBU) VFM Bang further explained that a Peace Corps presence in
Vietnam is "a little controversial" and will need to be worked out
"step by step." For "publicity purposes," he suggested it would be
acceptable to announce that our two governments have a Peace Corps
program in the works, but that the details of implementing the
program would need to be worked out over time, perhaps with a
gradual roll out, similar to what was done with the POW-MIA and
ordnance programs. This would "give people a chance to get used to
the idea." The Ambassador clarified that, in his understanding, if
the details of the program are not finalized in advance of the
President's visit, neither the White House nor the Peace Corps will
be in a position to make an announcement about it.


6. (SBU) VFM Bang responded that the President could make an
announcement, after which the details of the program could be worked
out "step by step," in part to prove to "other GVN agencies" that
the Peace Corps program is good. He implied that others in the GVN
remain suspicious of the Peace Corps and argue that there are
already many NGOS in Vietnam providing training in education. The
Ambassador pointed out that, despite the current NGO presence,
Vietnam "still has plenty of needs." If the Peace Corps cannot
launch a program growing to at least 30 volunteers in its first two
years, it would be very difficult to justify the program
financially. VFM said he personally would like to have "100 or
1,000 volunteers" because Vietnam needs teachers, but that "we need
to build trust first. After trust is established, we will be able

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to go as far as possible."

Counterterrorism: Dalat Nuclear Project and PSI
-------------- ---


7. (SBU) The Ambassador asked VFM Bang to work to accelerate
approval of the Dalat Nuclear Conversion project, through which
low-enriched uranium would be substituted for highly-enriched
uranium at no cost to Vietnam in Dalat's Russian-supplied research
reactor. This would reduce the GVN's expense in providing security
measures to protect the highly-enriched uranium, money that the GVN
could use elsewhere. VFM Bang noted that action is with the
Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST),which is the lead GVN
agency on this matter. The Ambassador agreed, noting that the
Department of Energy is sending an official to Hanoi in October to
continue discussions. The Ambassador also urged GVN endorsement of
PSI, noting that four other ASEAN members had already done so and
describing various ways by which the GVN could endorse the
initiative. VFM Bang recalled that the GVN now cooperates on
nonproliferation interdiction matters on a case-by-case basis.

Commercial Deals
--------------


8. (SBU) In the area of U.S.-Vietnam commercial activity, several
significant agreements could be signed either during the President's
visit or in its run-up. The Ambassador mentioned, in particular,
agreements involving Boeing aircraft, Liberty Mutual insurance, an
SSA Marine port project, power projects involving AES and Gannon and
Motorola mobile communications infrastructure equipment.

Law Enforcement Cooperation
--------------


9. (SBU) The Ambassador urged VFM Bang to use his influence to spur
bilateral law enforcement cooperation, including the sharing of
information. He mentioned that the lack of cooperation to date has
caused some in the United States to suggest that steps should be
taken to disrupt the flow of funds between the two nations due to
the large amounts of drug-related money laundered through that
channel. Law enforcement cooperation needs to be improved in order
to address the money laundering and other issues. A draft MOU
between DEA and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is languishing
within the MPS. VFM Bang said he would talk to the MPS about the
status of the MOU. The Ambassador also pushed for quick approval of
the pending repatriation agreement.

Human rights issues remain an area for improvement
-------------- --------------


10. (SBU) As a vote on PNTR for Vietnam approaches, the Ambassador
noted that there will be more attention paid to the human rights and
religious freedom situation in Vietnam. The detention of U.S.
citizen Cong Thanh Do, an activist who has advocated for political
freedom in Vietnam, is a concern. The longer Do remains detained
without charges, the more negatively this case will impact on
Vietnam's human rights record. GVN prosecutors need to complete
their investigation and, if there is no case against him, release
him. While we were pleased with the release of two prisoners of
conscience in early September, we remain concerned about the cases
of three other U.S. citizen prisoners of conscience detained without
charge on suspicion of links with Nguyen Huu Chanh, as well as
reports of arrests of Vietnamese participants associated with the
8406 Movement. The Ambassador stressed we will always raise our
concern over the arrest of persons for expressing their views. We
had also heard of a case in which a minority individual from the
Central Highlands was beaten and died in custody. Officials who
commit abuses need to be held accountable for their actions. Abuse
cases need the careful attention of the GVN. One bad case
overshadows all the progress that has been made, the Ambassador
concluded.

VFM Bang justifies detentions on security grounds
-------------- --------------


11. (SBU) Responding to the Ambassador's points, VFM Bang asserted
that since the beginning of this year the GVN has worked to create
an atmosphere conducive to the President's visit and to focus on the
positive. VFM Bang assessed that, to date, the atmosphere of the
bilateral relationship has yet to change for the better - it still
remains "balanced." According to VFM Bang, the U.S. citizens
affiliated with Nguyen Huu Chanh are detained and under
investigation for their violent terrorist intentions. The
Ambassador replied that if that is the case, then the evidence
should be made clear, they should be charged and then be allowed to
appear court. He continued, stating that it is our understanding
that the three detained U.S. citizens are not undergoing active
interrogations and are not linked to violent activities.


12. (SBU) VFM Bang contended that these individuals and others are

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in jail because they are agitating to overthrow the government. The
GVN needs to protect the stability of the government. He cited
recent events in Thailand and Mindanao as evidence of the possible
outcome of not arresting those seeking the overthrow of the
government. He also said that, if Chanh could succeed in "doing
something" in connection with the President's visit, it would be
very bad for Vietnam. He noted U.S. citizen Ly Tong's unauthorized
flight over HCMC in advance of then-President Clinton's visit as
evidence that some "activists" are dangerous.


13. (SBU) The Ambassador told the VFM that the USG continues to
investigate Nguyen Huu Chanh's activities, but that we need greater
transparency and flow of information from the Vietnamese in order to
understand what he may have done. VFM Bang concluded on the same
line of thought, saying that a 70-year-old woman who has a canister
of gasoline to throw at the Prime Minister can be dangerous. "We
will have to take care of security, otherwise it will be a no man's
land here," VFM Bang said.


14. (SBU) Comment: VFM Le Van Bang has just returned to Vietnam
from a trip overseas, and the back-and-forth on each issue raised in
this early morning meeting was limited to some degree by time. The
Ambassador left with VFM Bang a non-paper on possible deliverables
and next steps to ensure that our messages were received. We will
continue to follow up on all of them as November approaches. End
Comment.

ALOISI