GVN Responds on Repatriation Agreement

UNCLAS HANOI 002775

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS; L/EAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC CVIS KJUS PREL VM

SUBJECT: GVN Responds on Repatriation Agreement

Ref: (A) State 178608
(B) Hanoi 1964
(C) State 124911


1. (SBU) On October 30, Embassy received the GVN's response to the
clarifications requested (Ref A) regarding the draft repatriation
agreement Post delivered to the MFA on August 2 (Refs B and C). The
GVN agrees with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
interpretation of Article 4, section 1, second paragraph of the
draft Agreement on the Readmission of Vietnamese Nationals. The GVN
has also requested to receive promptly the final version of the
draft in order to conduct final consultations with relevant
Vietnamese officials before submission for signature. Full text of
the GVN's response is in paragraph 2.


2. (SBU) Begin text of GVN's response:

No. 1097/LS-PL

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam presents its compliments to the
Embassy of the United States of America in Vietnam, and with
reference to the latter's diplomatic note No 1242/06 on October 24,
2006, has the honor to inform the following:

-- 1. The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Vietnam does agree with the U.S Department of Homeland Security's
interpretation of Article 4, section 1, second paragraph of the
draft Agreement on the Readmission of Vietnamese Nationals.
Pursuant to this reading, the Department of Homeland Security shall
certify that all documents submitted to the Government of Vietnam
for its consideration are true and correct copies of the official
original documents and pertain to the individual whose return has
been requested by the U.S. Government. This provision does not
impose any additional translation obligations, except those
specifically set forth in Article 4, section 1, second paragraph.
Nevertheless, the Vietnamese side would also like to highlight that,
in compliance with such provision, the U.S. side shall also certify
that these translations are translated correctly from the original
English documents.

-- 2. The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
would highly appreciate to promptly receive the U.S. side's final
version of the draft Agreement in order to conduct final
consultation with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies before
submitting the draft Agreement to the Government for its
consideration and authorization of signature.

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to
renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi the
assurances of its highest consideration.

Hanoi, October 30, 2006

End text of response.

MARINE