VIETNAM: Palestine, and Iraq Bombings

UNCLAS HANOI 000429 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PTER IZ PA VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM: Palestine, and Iraq Bombings REFS: A. STATE 27174; B. Hanoi 325; C. STATE 28802 ¶1. (SBU) Nguyen Diep Ha, desk officer in the Foreign Ministry's West Asia and Africa Department, told Poloff February 23 that Vietnam "respects the decision of the Palestinian people's choice to elect Hamas" and predicted that Hamas will "represent the Palestinian people well and will act in their best interests." No one from the Palestinian authority or Hamas has recently suggested meeting with any representative from the GVN, she said, but if such a meeting is requested, Vietnam will consider U.S. views. Vietnam has relatively good relations with the PA (Ref B). ¶2. (SBU) Americas Desk officer Le Dung subsequently told Poloff that Vietnam will definitely make a statement on the mosque bombing (Ref C),but the timing and content of the statement have yet to be determined. Poloff provided copies of the Statement by the President and the Joint Statement by Ambassador Khalilzad and General Casey. MARINE