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


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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
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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.


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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