FORMER PM KIET URGES USG-GVN TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000360 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON VM SUBJECT: FORMER PM KIET URGES USG-GVN TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet believes the US and Vietnam "wasted too many years" before re-establishing relations after the war, and now both sides must hurry to make up lost time. Kiet was especially keen on jump-starting stalled BIT talks. On human rights, Kiet told Ambassador Michalak, the US and Vietnam share the same goals, but have different timelines for achieving them. End summary. Senior Statesman Says "Hurry Up!" -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Vo Van Kiet, best known for his leadership role in Vietnam's reform ("doi moi") policy during his tenure as Prime Minister of Vietnam from 1991 to 1997, received Ambassador Michalak warmly on March 31 at his Ho Chi Minh City office. Kiet told the Ambassador that Vietnam's economic success has far exceeded his expectations, and Vietnam now stands poised to finally realize the development goals he and his colleagues envisioned when they began the reform process decades ago. On the diplomatic front, Kiet said US-Vietnam relations were at an all-time high, but cautioned against complacency, noting that both sides "wasted too many years" before normalizing relations after the war, and now the two countries needed to hurry to make up for lost time, especially on the economic front. Balking at the BIT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Former PM Kiet asked the Ambassador what more could be done to move the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) talks forward, noting Vietnam had similar agreements with many other countries already. Ambassador Michalak said the current BIT impasse presented an "interesting case study," because all the senior GVN Ministers he has spoken with are eager to get to the negotiating table and begin ironing out the differences there, while GVN bureaucrats were taking a much more cautious approach. Kiet was incredulous, noting in his day, "Bureaucrats listened to Ministers, not the other way around." Kiet said he would do everything in his power to encourage senior leaders to start BIT negotiations as soon as possible, and urged the Ambassador to continue to do the same. (Note: Though Kiet retired from official politics after leaving office, he remains an extremely influential advisor to GVN and CPV leaders alike. End note) Human Rights: Same Goals, Different Timeline -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Kiet believes Vietnam and the US actually share the same goals on human rights, religious freedom and democracy, noting "we want the same things for our people and countries." Kiet said Vietnam will continue to make efforts to improve its human rights record and expand the boundaries of free expression, press and democracy, but the country needs time to assess the changes brought on by global integration and requirements for future progress. Kiet said frank and open discussion is the way for both sides to overcome mutual misunderstandings. Now that both sides have overcome the biggest challenge of all, "the legacy of our past," Kiet stressed "we should not and must not let our remaining differences delay us from moving forward." FAIRFAX