Vietnam's Inspector General Expresses Interest in

UNCLAS HANOI 001072 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON VM SUBJECT: Vietnam's Inspector General Expresses Interest in Cooperating to Combat Corruption ¶1. (U) This is an Action Request. Please see paragraph 10. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Ambassador and Inspector General Tran Van Truyen explored anti-corruption cooperation during their September 16 meeting. Truyen requested cooperation in two areas: ethics training for inspectors, and identifying a U.S. counterpart agency. He predicted more anti-corruption action as Vietnamese leaders jockey to prove their willingness to fight corruption before the Party Congress in January 2011. The Ambassador reiterated DOJ's offer to assist Vietnam investigate charges of corruption against a former executive of Nexus Technology. End summary. ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador called on Inspector General Tran Van Truyen on September 16 to discuss the GVN's anti-corruption efforts and explore future areas of cooperation. After discussing Truyen's participation in a VOLVIS program on the role of government and civil society in combating corruption last April, the Ambassador and Truyen exchanged ideas on concrete steps to strengthen bilateral anti-corruption cooperation. Truyen said he wants to establish a long-term relationship with a single U.S. government agency with a similar mandate, to exchange information and ideas about combating corruption. The Ambassador cautioned the USG does not have a natural single counterpart, but is willing to assist in indentifying a possible partner. ¶4. (SBU) Drawing upon his experience during his VOLVIS program, Truyen said he was impressed with ethics training received by U.S. local and federal government employees. According to Truyen, all ministries have a code of conduct and training is mandatory for all civil servants. However, the training would be more effective if it included U.S.-style ethics training. Surprisingly, Truyen offered that Vietnam could learn from the U.S. experience of working with civil society organizations on anti-corruption measures and welcomed further ideas for cooperation in this area. The Ambassador promised to follow-up with Washington agencies. ¶5. (SBU) Responding to a question from the Ambassador, Truyen noted that corruption remains a sensitive topic and predicted it will be a significant issue next year in the lead up to the 2011 Party Congress. Truyen commented his office would prepare an anti-corruption report for the Prime Minister for discussion during the Party Congress. He added that the GVN must now make good on its promise to update laws, promote transparency and good governance now that it has ratified the UN Convention on Anti-corruption. The Ambassador welcomed Truyen's interested and recommended they pursue the idea in greater detail. ¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the case of a former executive of the Philadelphia-based Nexus Technology Corporation who pleaded guilty to charges related to his participation in a conspiracy to bribe Vietnamese government officials in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, reiterating DOJ's July offer to share information on the case. Truyen said the Prime Minister had instructed the MFA to respond to the letter, if there was sufficient information to warrant it. ¶7. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: We welcome Truyen's interest in exploring anti-cooperation and believe the Party's concern about corruption between now and the Party Congress could create an opening for us to deepen cooperation. Along these lines, Post would appreciate suggestions for responding to Truyen's request for assistance in creating U.S.-style ethics training course for Vietnamese inspectors and indentifying a possible USG anti-corruption counterpart. Palmer