Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HANOI817
2006-04-10 10:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

VIETNAM: NO COMMENT ON DARFUR PKO NOW

Tags:  PREL SU PKO VM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7718
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHHI #0817 1001045
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101045Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1423
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0902
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6692
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0573
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J02/J2/J3/J5//
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//ISA-AP//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J2/J3/J5//
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-3//
UNCLAS HANOI 000817 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SU PKO VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: NO COMMENT ON DARFUR PKO NOW

REFS: STATE 51778

UNCLAS HANOI 000817

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SU PKO VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM: NO COMMENT ON DARFUR PKO NOW

REFS: STATE 51778


1. (SBU) Summary: The MFA has not responded to our request
to discuss the issue of troop and/or equipment support for a
UN peacekeeping operation in Sudan. The Ministry of Defense
received reftel demarche without comment, but asked
unofficially whether China will participate and what is the
expected scope of the mission. MND officials also noted
that Vietnam's participation in any PKO mission will be
complicated and will require a legislative change, which
could be a time-consuming process. End Summary.


2. (SBU) DATT Hanoi met Senior Colonel Nguyen Minh Huy,
acting director of the America, Australia and Africa
Department of the Ministry of Defense, April 10 to deliver
reftel demarche. Huy had no official response to the
demarche, but asked DATT unofficially about the scope and
size of the Darfur PKO mission and inquired if the Chinese
would participate. He also said that it "will take a lot of
effort to coordinate" any effort to involve Vietnam in
Darfur.


3. (SBU) At an earlier event, the DATT raised the issue of
peacekeeping with another MND official, who noted that
Vietnamese law will have to be changed to permit Vietnamese
troops to be stationed overseas. That will be possible, the
official said, since the National Assembly will do what the
GVN requests, but it will take time and will have to occur
during a National Assembly session, which could have an
effect on the timing of a Vietnam contribution.


4. (SBU) Comment: The MFA is avoiding us on this one, for
now at least, possibly out of concern that they not
accidentally step into the MND's territory. Sr. Col. Huy's
question about China was a pointed one, sending the message
that if the United States and China are not in agreement on
the Darfur UN PKO mission, then Vietnam will likely not
participate. Because the upcoming 10th Party Congress has
paralyzed most of Vietnam's policymaking apparatus, we may
not receive a formal answer to this demarche before the UN's
April 24 deadline. End Comment.

MARINE