MARITIME: GVN WILL GET BACK TO US ON IMO DEMARCHE

UNCLAS HANOI 001876 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MLS AND EEB IO/T FOR L. LUFTIG LONDON FOR EST - J. WHITTLESEY USCG FOR CG-52 AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC IMO EWWT PHSA UK VM SUBJECT: MARITIME: GVN WILL GET BACK TO US ON IMO DEMARCHE REF: STATE 148540 ¶1. (SBU) On October 30, Econoff met with Dr. Bui Thien Thu, Deputy Director General of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Transport, to ask for the government of Vietnam's (GVN) support for re-election of the United States to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council in Category "A" at the 25th IMO Assembly, to be held in London November 19-30, 2007. ¶2. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel talking points and underscored the deepening U.S.-Vietnam bilateral maritime relationship, including the signing of a Maritime Transport Agreement and USG technical assistance to Vietnam in the areas of Port State Control and the International Ship and Port Facilities Security Code (ISPS Code). ¶3. (SBU) Dr. Thu was noncommittal in response and said he would get back to us after Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung reviewed the demarche. Post will report further developments and contacts as they occur. MICHALAK