Ambassador Meets Vietnam's Chief of Police, Signs

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 HANOI 000964

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI SNAR EAID ECON OSCI VM

SUBJECT: Ambassador Meets Vietnam's Chief of Police, Signs
Agreement Expanding Law Enforcement Cooperation

Ref: Hanoi 943

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Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) The Ambassador and Vice Minister of Public Security
Le The Tiem signed April 26 the Amendment to the U.S.-
Vietnam Letter of Agreement on Counternarcotics. Prior to
the signing ceremony, the two discussed bilateral law
enforcement cooperation and other issues, agreeing that both
sides' efforts to date have been fruitful. However, the
Ambassador stressed, the two countries can do more, and he
urged MPS to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the
Drug Enforcement Administration. The Ambassador also
requested the support of MPS in efforts to control the
spread of HIV in Vietnam. On a trade-related note, the
Ambassador observed that MPS could play a role in overcoming
obstacles to the import of American motorcycles with large
engines. End Summary.

Law Enforcement Cooperation
--------------


2. (SBU) The Ambassador met April 26 with Vice Minister of
Public Security (and head of Vietnam's police) General Le
The Tiem to sign the Amendment to the U.S.-Vietnam Letter of
Agreement (LOA) on Counternarcotics Cooperation (full text
of agreement in para 12; original signed document pouched to
EAP/MLS). Prior to the signing ceremony, the two discussed
bilateral law enforcement and other issues for nearly 30
minutes. Congratulating Vice Minister Tiem for his recent
re-election to the Communist Party's Central Committee
(reftel),the Ambassador noted that Vietnam's reputation as
a safe destination and place to live is in large measure
thanks to the vice minister's efforts. That said, as our
bilateral relationship deepens, and more Americans visit and
live in Vietnam, there will be incidents involving cultural
and other differences that could lead to problems. There
have already been some such cases in Hanoi involving
Americans, and we will continue to bring these to the
attention of the authorities and cooperate with the
Vietnamese police to mitigate against these kinds of
problems, the Ambassador said.


3. (SBU) Thanking General Tiem for his ministry's assistance
in bringing the LOA amendment to fruition, the Ambassador
observed that both the United States and Vietnam can look
back on our past cooperation with satisfaction and recognize
the value in the types of training and exchanges that the
LOA has been able to bring about. We hope that the Ministry
of Public Security (MPS) can look ahead to the pending
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MPS and the Drug
Enforcement Administration and agree to sign it at an early
date. Ultimately, we look forward to the day when we can go
beyond training and information sharing and participate in
mutually acceptable, coordinated activities to go after drug
traffickers and money launderers. Any assistance that the
Vice Minister could render in moving the pending MOU forward
would be appreciated. With a rumored split of MPS into two
ministries of police and State security in the offing, we
are concerned that the MOU might get caught in the shuffle
and languish in someone's in-box, the Ambassador added.


4. (SBU) Vice Minister Tiem agreed that bilateral law
enforcement cooperation has been fruitful, and that the
signing of the LOA amendment will reap further benefits in
the future. Transnational crimes such as drug trafficking,
trafficking in persons and terrorism impact global and
regional stability. Developing countries like Vietnam are
especially vulnerable and face many difficulties in
addressing these issues. High-tech criminals are also
beginning to appear in Vietnam. These are all areas in
which Vietnam and the United States can work together, and
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's June 2005 visit to the United
States helped to expand our law enforcement and security
cooperation, Tiem said.


5. (SBU) Vietnam's police are working day and night to make
Vietnam a safe destination, but this goal requires the
support of all members of society and international
cooperation, Tiem continued. Vietnam greatly appreciates
the assistance the USG renders in this effort.
Counterterrorism cooperation, particularly involving
individuals who have tried to attack Vietnamese embassies or
committed other terrorist acts, such as Ly Tong (who is
currently in jail in Thailand),is especially welcome.
Vietnam is grateful for USG assistance and support in the

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case of terrorist Nguyen Huu Chanh (who was recently
arrested in Seoul on an Interpol warrant),Tiem said.
(Note: Although U.S. law enforcement officials had
exchanged information on Chanh's activities with their
Vietnamese counterparts, the United States did not play a
role in Chanh's arrest in Korea. Furthermore, the United
States has not assisted Vietnam in the case of Ly Tong. End
Note.)


6. (SBU) Drug control is a global issue on which all
countries must cooperate, and the LOA amendment is a great
step forward to increase mutual trust and understanding
between the United States and Vietnam in this field, Tiem
stressed. The two countries' functional agencies have
already shared their training and experience, and MPS wants
to go deeper in other areas. However, this must be done
based on a legal framework that is approved by the National
Assembly. Tiem himself visited DEA headquarters in 1998 and
was able to meet with U.S. officials to discuss a number of
issues of mutual interest. There are clearly areas in which
the United States and Vietnam can cooperate further, such as
in drug treatment. For example, Vietnam has a number of
herbal and other remedies that might be worth sharing, Tiem
observed.


7. (SBU) The Ambassador agreed that cooperation is the most
effective way to tackle the regional and global issues that
we face. Counterterrorism, trafficking in persons and
counternarcotics are very high among the USG's priorities.
Over the past 18 months, bilateral cooperation has greatly
improved, but it is still not as strong as it should be. We
have seen tremendous progress, but there is still room to
grow. During President Bush's meeting with Prime Minister
Khai last year, law enforcement was an issue of discussion,
and the PM's trip set a new standard of cooperation to which
we should strive. President Bush will visit Vietnam in
November, and our leaders will ask whether we have met this
new standard. We now have a good report to present, but we
could create an even better one over the next six months,
the Ambassador observed.

Medication-assisted Treatment, HIV/AIDS
--------------


8. (SBU) Drug addiction, and how to turn drug addicts away
from narcotics, is a major interest of the United States and
a key aspect of our efforts to assist Vietnam in its
struggle against HIV/AIDS. Medication-assisted treatment
such as methadone has helped people to overcome drug
addiction, and this is a subject worth further discussion
with MPS and others within the GVN working on this issue.
Furthermore, as Vietnamese society changes, and as attitudes
towards sexuality change, the GVN needs to step up its
efforts to ensure that its young people have access to the
means to protect themselves from HIV and other diseases.
MPS can play a key role in ensuring that places where young
people congregate and meet such as bars and discos have
condoms available. Right now, some 100 people a day are
infected with HIV in Vietnam, and most of them are not using
injected drugs. As the epidemic transforms, we must change
our tactics to deal with it. This cannot be done without
the full support of the police, the Ambassador underlined.


9. (SBU) VM Tiem expressed his full agreement, noting that
the GVN and local governments are doing their utmost to
ensure that drug addicts have access to drug treatment
centers, vocational training and future employment
opportunities. Every level of Vietnamese officialdom is
providing resources to tackle this problem. To address the
spread of HIV/AIDS, the GVN has a number of harm reduction
programs, including efforts to provide condoms in public
places and high-risk areas where people meet. The GVN also
provides syringes to drug users, the Vice Minister
explained.

Police Motorbikes
--------------


10. (SBU) The Ambassador stressed the USG's full support for
Vietnam's WTO aspirations, adding that the import of
motorcycles with large engines is one area in which the
United States and Vietnam do not yet see eye-to-eye. The
police, with its need for this kind of bike, may be able to
play a role and assist with overcoming the obstacles to
importing them. Tiem replied that the police indeed need
fast bikes to chase criminals, and that MPS "already has a
plan."

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The Signing Ceremony
--------------


11. (SBU) Prior to signing the LOA amendment, Vice Minister
Tiem presented a statement that reflected his remarks to the
Ambassador. Vietnam-U.S. law enforcement cooperation has
been to date been fruitful, he said, and the LOA amendment
will allow both sides to expand their efforts to tackle
narcotics-related problems. A television crew from Vietnam
Television covered the ceremony, and there were a number of
still photographers and reporters at the event. One
representative press piece from the Vietnam News Agency
reads as follows:

The US Government will disburse an additional 500,000 USD
for the training of drug squads in Viet Nam for 2006-07,
according to a deal signed by Deputy Minister of Public
Security Sen. Lieut. Gen Le The Tiem and US Ambassador
Michael W. Marine in Ha Noi on April 26.

The deal is an amendment to the letter of cooperation
agreement on drug control between Viet Nam and the United
States dating back to February 26, 2004. Over the past two
years, the project has helped facilitate three training
courses for police, customs officers, border guards,
investigators and lawyers and organize a fieldtrip to the US
for Vietnamese drug squads, thus strengthening their working
capacity.

The new amendment aims to intensify the training of drug
squads for Viet Nam, the signing of which, as said by Deputy
Minister Tiem, has demonstrated the two Governments'
determination to fight against drug crimes.

For his part, Ambassador Marine pledged further support for
Vietnamese legal enforcement agencies in order to boost
bilateral cooperation in the fight against trans-national
crimes, especially in drug control.

End press piece.

The LOA Amendment
--------------


12. (SBU) Begin text of LOA Amendment. Original document
pouched to EAP/MLS, pouch #4047358.

AMENDMENT TO ANNEX 3 OF THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT ON NARCOTICS
COOPERATION SIGNED ON 11 DECEMBER, 2003 AND FEBRUARY 26,
2004 BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF
VIETNAM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


I. GENERAL

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,
represented by Vice Minister of Public Security Colonel
General Le The Tiem and the Government of the United States
of America (USG),represented by Ambassador Michael W.
Marine, (each individually, a "Party." Or collectively, the
"Parties") jointly agree to modify, amend Annex Three of the
letter of agreement on counternarcotics cooperation between
the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the
USG, signed in English in Los Angeles on December 11, 2003
and signed in Vietnamese in Hanoi on February 26, 2004,
hereinafter called (the "Agreement"):

To provide additional funds in the amount of USD 500,000, in
addition to the amount of assistance already committed by
the USG for the Government of Vietnam in the LOA on
Counternarcotics Cooperation to replicate the
Counternarcotics Training Program identified in Annex Three
of the Agreement three times in 2006-2007 and to conduct
specialized counternarcotics training in coordination with
the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration's International Training Section.

The full project descriptions and project goals are
described in Sections II and III below. All other
obligations, terms, and other conditions contained in the
letter of agreement, signed in English in Los Angeles on
December 11, 2003 and signed in Vietnamese in Hanoi on
February 26, 2004, shall remain applicable and in full force
and effect.

II. PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS


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The Counternarcotics Training is designed to increase the
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's capability
to detect and interdict narcotics at the nation's air and
seaports. This three-phase program will build on the
knowledge, skills and abilities created in the July 2004
iteration of this project by expanding the geographical
coverage of the program to the other major air and seaports
in Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Haiphong. Toward
that goal, the Government of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam and the USG will take actions and commit resources
on an annual basis as authorized by their respective
legislative processes to support this effort.

Actions to be taken in each of three iterations of the
program include:

-- Travel to an appropriate port in the United States to
expose key front-line General Department of Customs staff to
U.S. best practices in counternarcotics;

-- A week-long training seminar for front-line Customs
supervisors in the target port cities, taught by U.S.
Customs Personnel and incorporating practical techniques;

-- A follow-on availability for U.S. Customs experts to
answer practical questions and assist with counternarcotics
enforcement for up to one week following the training
course.

The planned duration of this project is one year (three one-
month iterations, spaced at four month intervals),following
which Vietnam's major air and seaport facilities will be
staffed with Customs enforcement officers who are familiar
with the latest techniques and methodologies for detecting
and interdicting drugs.

The provision of funding beyond the current fiscal year is
conditioned upon satisfactory progress toward project goals
and the availability of funds authorized and appropriated on
a year-to-year basis by the U.S. Congress and approved by
the USG Department of State, Bureau for International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

The counternarcotics specialized training is intended to
provide training for participants assigned to active drug
enforcement units with operational duties. Toward that
goal, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
and the USG will take actions and commit resources on an
annual basis as authorized by their respective legislative
processes to support this effort. This training would build
on the assistance contained in the main LOA document and
would reach additional counternarcotics officers. The
training will occur during 2006 at a time agreeable to both
parties.

III. Project Goal and Achievement Verification

The long-term goal of the Counternarcotics Training project
is to reduce drug trafficking into Vietnam. The annual goal
for this year's funding is to have at least one narcotics
seizure with related arrests directly related to the
training program from each of the ports that receive
counternarcotics training, and to achieve a 50 percent
improvement in the knowledge, skills and abilities of
training participants. Progress toward achievement of the
project goal will be measured in terms of seizure reports
showing at least one training-related seizure with related
arrests at each port and KSA evaluation tests done pre- and
post-training. Methods of verification of project
achievement include official records of arrests and
conviction of narcotics law violators and seizures and
destruction of drugs.

The goal of the DEA training courses is to assist the
government of Vietnam to combat and prevent illicit
narcotics trafficked into Vietnam from outside by elevating
the skill level of its counter-narcotics offices in tactical
safety and operational planning. Additionally, this
training will foster trust and cooperation between
Vietnamese and U.S. Law Enforcement Counter-Narcotics
Agencies including DEA. The outcome of this training
initiative is expected to enhance Vietnam's overall regional
strategic plan to combat the flow of illicit drugs, and
specifically address training needs of the Vietnamese Police
related to operational planning and officer safety.

Sustainability:

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The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam agrees
to send participants to this training who will remain in
their agencies for at least two years. The Vietnamese
authorities are encouraged to implement appropriate
legislative mechanisms to facilitate effective law-
enforcement techniques and use the knowledge from the
training to implement and enhance counter-narcotics efforts
throughout the country. Methods of verification will
include a six-month follow-up by SODC, the Ministry of
Public Security of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the
U.S. Embassy to review implementation and effectiveness of
the program.

IV. Program Evaluation

Officials of the Government of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam and the USG will meet within one month after each
training iteration to discuss progress. A written report of
such meetings will be prepared and provided to the
respective parties.

Progress toward achievement of the DEA project's goals will
be measured by an increase in the skills and abilities of
participating Vietnamese law-enforcement officers to plan
and conduct high risk operations in support of arresting
drug traffickers and seizing illicit narcotics. The success
of this project will also be measured, at least in part, by
the various Vietnamese Counter-Narcotics Units' cooperative
efforts with the DEA Country Office.

This modification/amendment is done in duplicate at Hanoi,
Vietnam, this day of (month) of 2006, in English and
Vietnamese languages, both texts being equally authentic.

End text of amendment.

MARINE