HCOC: Vietnam Still Not Ready

UNCLAS HANOI 000958 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS Department for EAP/MLS, ISN/MTR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MTCRE PREL MNUC KSCA ETTC TSPA VM SUBJECT: HCOC: Vietnam Still Not Ready REF: A) State 64554; B) 05 Hanoi 493 ¶1. (SBU) In response to Ref A's points, MFA Department of International Organizations nonproliferation specialist Vu Van Mien said April 26 that Vietnam is still studying subscribing to the HCOC, but has "no plans to sign it in the near future." In principle, Vietnam supports the goals of the HCOC. However, "human resource issues" and a concern that the GVN already has a full plate keeping up with its other multilateral nonproliferation commitments, including the preparation of annual reports, are the primary obstacles to Vietnam's taking a more proactive stance, Mien said. MARINE