SENIOR MPS OFFICIAL ON PRESIDENT'S VISIT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 002496 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR PHUM ASEC OVIP VM SUBJECT: SENIOR MPS OFFICIAL ON PRESIDENT'S VISIT, BROADENED LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION HANOI 00002496 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Jon Aloisi per 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: During a September 29 discussion with the Charge on a number of issues of bilateral concern, Vice Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong: stressed that the GVN would do its utmost to ensure the security of President Bush during his November visit to Vietnam; noted GVN security precautions would not abide any &suspicious behavior,8 particularly by Vietnamese-Americans; underlined that strengthening bilateral law enforcement cooperation requires trust and reciprocity; pledged to look into signing the MPS-DEA Memorandum of Understanding in the run-up to the President's visit; and, promised to factor USG concerns into deliberations on the release of prisoners of concern Nguyen Vu Binh and Phan Van Ban. End Summary. President's Visit: Security -------------- ¶2. (C) The Charge met September 29 with Vice Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong to discuss the November visit to Vietnam of President George W. Bush and a number of other bilateral issues. (Comments on detained Amcits, religious freedom reported in septels/notal.) The USG has appreciated the GVN's support for making the President's upcoming visit as successful as possible, and we recognize the special efforts of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) in working with the U.S. Secret Service to ensure the President's safety while he is here. VM Huong responded that Vietnam looks forward to welcoming the President, and his visit will be an important milestone in the continued development of bilateral ties. ¶3. (SBU) Security will be a critical issue, VM Huong agreed. &You can report to Washington that I have direct responsibility for this matter,8 he said. Although it is impossible to plan for every possible contingency, the GVN, and MPS in particular, have already put together the best possible plan that will ensure that the President enjoys his time in Vietnam. &He will be able to safely go anywhere,8 VM Huong asserted. Warning to Ethnic Vietnamese American Citizens -------------- - ¶4. (C) Returning to this subject later in the conversation, VM Huong stressed that the GVN will do &everything in its power8 to protect the visiting APEC leaders. Vietnam will treat with the utmost seriousness any and all criminal activities. There will be no exceptions. Even suspicious behavior will not be tolerated, Huong said. Therefore, the Vice Minister urged the USG to pass on to its ethnic Vietnamese citizens that, if they travel to Vietnam before or during APEC, they should &behave themselves,8 VM Huong stated. President's Visit: Strengthening Law Enforcement Cooperation -------------- --- ¶5. (SBU) Noting that a successful Presidential visit will also require substantive results, the Charge said that the USG would like to include progress in security and law enforcement cooperation as one point in a Joint Statement between leaders of our two nations. For example, signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Drug Enforcement Administration and MPS would be a good step forward and allow us to highlight bilateral law enforcement cooperation in the Joint Statement. This MOU has been under consideration for some time at MPS, and we hope that VM Huong will help to move this matter forward. ¶6. (SBU) We look forward to stronger U.S.-Vietnam law enforcement cooperation in the months and years ahead, particularly on issues related to police operations and money laundering, the Charge continued. At present, our DEA attache does not have close relations with his counterparts in MPS. We hope that, over time, we can rectify this, the Charge stressed. ¶7. (SBU) Money laundering is a matter of particular concern, he continued. Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are transferred from the United States to Vietnam, and we believe that tens of millions in drug money is laundered through this channel. We are grateful for MPS's past and current cooperation, which has been significant, though limited. With a signed DEA-MPS MOU, we can build on this foundation toward fuller and more effective cooperative activities that will greatly benefit both our countries, the Charge said. HANOI 00002496 002.2 OF 002 ¶8. (C) VM Huong responded that he is aware of the great importance the USG attaches to counternarcotics matters. Although reaching a formal agreement &should go smoothly,8 counternarcotics cooperation is actually proceeding smoothly without an MOU, and both sides are sharing their experience and expertise. The problem is one of trust, VM Huong said. Furthermore, even without an extradition agreement, Vietnam has arrested certain fugitives at the request of the USG. Of course, the GVN is well aware of the obstacles that prevent the USG from responding in kind. The problem is thus also one of reciprocity. That said, VM Huong expressed his understanding of the importance of this matter to the USG in the run-up to the President's visit and pledged to discuss it with the relevant MPS and other officials. ¶9. (SBU) Later in the discussion, VM Huong returned to the subject of the MOU, noting that its delay in being acted upon by MPS was the result of its languishing with the &police side8 of the ministry. Now that the ministry's Department of International Cooperation is in charge of the matter, &things should go quicker,8 the Vice Minister said. Prisoners of Concern -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Noting MPS's role in the recent amnesties of Pham Hong Son and Ma Van Bay, the Charge urged VM Huong to take steps to release the two remaining prisoners of concern cited in our bilateral exchanges on human rights: Nguyen Vu Binh and Phan Van Ban. Absent Binh's release, Ambassador Marine has a standing request to meet with him in prison, and we hope that MPS will respond positively to this request in the event that Binh is not released soon. VM Huong replied that &no one spends his entire life in prison in Vietnam.8 He further noted that the reason that &certain individuals8 have not yet been amnestied is that they have not served their requisite prison terms to qualify for amnesty. The Vice Minister pledged to include the USG's request in the GVN's deliberations and that these individuals would be released as soon as they are eligible. ALOISI