Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08USUNNEWYORK635
2008-07-17 16:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:  

DPM/FM KHIEM OFFERS "FAVORABLE CONDITIONS" ON

Tags:  OFDP PREL KREC VM UN 
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VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0635 1991622
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 171622Z JUL 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4624
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 0199
C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000635 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP (EDMONDSON),M (U/S KENNEDY),DS/OFM
(MASSEY)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: OFDP PREL KREC VM UN
SUBJECT: DPM/FM KHIEM OFFERS "FAVORABLE CONDITIONS" ON
HANOI PROPERTY FOR PERMISSION TO BUY IN NYC

Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000635

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO/UNP (EDMONDSON),M (U/S KENNEDY),DS/OFM
(MASSEY)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: OFDP PREL KREC VM UN
SUBJECT: DPM/FM KHIEM OFFERS "FAVORABLE CONDITIONS" ON
HANOI PROPERTY FOR PERMISSION TO BUY IN NYC

Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) During a meeting on July 16, Vietnamese DPM/FM Pham
Gia Khiem requested that Khalilzad "work with the State
Department" to grant Vietnam permission to buy property in
New York for their permanent mission to the United Nations.
According to Khiem, the USG was delaying the purchase until
the two parties could agree on terms for the U.S. Embassy
property in Hanoi. Khiem argued that the USG, as host
country to the UN, has an agreement with the UN to support
member states with the rental and / or purchase of mission
property. (Note: The USG does not have such an agreement
with the UN but is obligated under the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations to "either facilitate the acquisition on
its territory, in accordance with its laws, by the sending
state of premises necessary for its mission or assist in
obtaining accommodation in some other way.") Khiem told
Ambassador Khalilzad that Vietnam would "create favorable
conditions for the embassy in Hanoi" if the issue were
"raised immediately" in Washington. Ambassador Khalilzad
responded that it was in the interest of both parties to come
to a favorable conclusion on the matter and said that he
would seek guidance from Washington on possible next steps.


2. (C) Comment: As the Department is aware, the Host Country
is enjoined from invoking reciprocity openly in the UN
context, so the letter from the New York Regional Office of
OFM turning down the Vietnamese request made no such
reference. USUN has also avoided any such discussion with
the Vietnamese Mission to the UN in this regard. Khiem is
therefore getting his information from Hanoi or Washington.
USUN understands that the only remaining issue blocking
approval of Vietnam's request to buy property in New York is
the unwillingness of Vietnam to offer the USG two
back-to-back 99 year leases in Hanoi. Given Khiem's
"favorable conditions" statement to Ambassador Khalilzad, the
Department may wish to consider informing the Vietnamese in
Washington or Hanoi that its request to purchase property in
New York will be approved as soon as Vietnam agrees to the
lease period the USG requires. Doing so may persuade Vietnam
not to go public with the issue in the UN's Committee on
Relations with the Host Country, where the membership is
likely to be unsympathetic to the USG position. End Comment.
Khalilzad