GVN CONSIDERATION OF GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR

UNCLAS HANOI 001595 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP PTER PREL KGIC VM SUBJECT: GVN CONSIDERATION OF GLOBAL INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM STILL AT EARLY STAGE REFS: (A) STATE 122843 (B) HANOI 436 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: According to an MFA official, the question of GVN endorsement of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism ("Global Initiative") has been submitted to relevant ministries for review and comment. After the MFA receives feedback from these ministries, it will prepare a recommendation for consideration by high-level officials, probably the Prime Minister. There is no timeline for this process, but a GVN decision prior to the proposed Dalat conversion ceremony is unlikely. Since the initial March 7 demarche urging endorsement (Ref B),Post has provided updates to the MFA on the Initiative's new participants and Astana conference. Post will continue to urge endorsement of the Global Initiative with appropriate GVN interlocutors. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) According to MFA Department of International Law and Treaties Expert Nguyen Dang Thang, the proposal to endorse the Global Initiative has been circulated to the Ministries of Science and Technology (MOST),National Defense (MND) and Public Security (MPS) for their review and comment. As of yet, the MFA has not received feedback from these ministries. Thang said the appropriate MPS officials are fully occupied with briefing the recently seated Standing Committee of the National Assembly on the UN Hostages Convention and the UN Suppression of Terrorist Bombing Convention. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has made ratification of these counterterrorism conventions a priority. Thang suggested that the MFA would be able to push for interagency feedback on the Global Initiative at the end of this month, after work on the UN conventions is complete. He was unable to provide a timeline for an eventual decision. ¶3. (SBU) Since the March 7 joint U.S-Russian demarche, post has provided the MFA with several updates on the growing list of Global Initiative partners, as well as readouts from the Astana conference and the Miami law enforcement conference. Two MPS Interpol officials attended the Miami conference. On July 27, post and the Russian Embassy sent identical diplomatic notes to the MFA again urging endorsement of the Global Initiative. No response to our diplomatic note has been received. ¶4. (SBU) Post will continue to track the progress of this matter in the GVN inter-agency process and to urge endorsement of the Global Initiative with appropriate GVN interlocutors. MICHALAK