Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HANOI424
2009-05-04 08:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

Back to Basics: Vietnam Discusses Peacekeeping at APCSS

Tags:  PREL KPKO MARR MASS VM 
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VZCZCXRO5300
RR RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0424/01 1240806
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 040806Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9604
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 5836
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000424 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE for EAP/MLS, PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR MASS VM

SUBJECT: Back to Basics: Vietnam Discusses Peacekeeping at APCSS
Workshop

REF: Hanoi 0185

HANOI 00000424 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000424

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE for EAP/MLS, PM/RSAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO MARR MASS VM

SUBJECT: Back to Basics: Vietnam Discusses Peacekeeping at APCSS
Workshop

REF: Hanoi 0185

HANOI 00000424 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: In an effort to further encourage Vietnam to
participate in UN peacekeeping operations (PKO),the Asia-Pacific
Center for Security Studies (APCSS),an academic institute linked
with U.S. Pacific Command, joined with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA)-affiliated think tank and training institution, the
Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV),to host a workshop, "Vietnam
and United Nations Peace Operations," March 30-April 3, in Hanoi.
Participants from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and
Public Security expressed guarded support for future PKO
participation peacekeeping and considered the workshop to have been
a success. At the same time, despite continued U.S. attempts to
promote more active participation in the Global Peacekeeping
Operations Initiative (GPOI, reftel),it is evident that many in
Vietnam's military and foreign policy establishment still do not
have an adequate understanding of the technical aspects of
peacekeeping. End summary.

Initial Attitudes
--------------


2. (SBU) The APCSS and DAV brought together approximately 40
working-level representatives from the Ministries of Defense,
Foreign Affairs, and Public Security for a five-day seminar, March
30-April 3, to discuss international peacekeeping concepts and
consider options for Vietnam's future participation in peacekeeping
operations (PKO). The seminar, "Vietnam and United Nations Peace
Operations," addressed issues common to all PKO-contributing
countries: legal questions, financial considerations, training
resources and requirements, logistical challenges, and coordination
with the UN. The APCSS team, led by retired U.S. Army Lieutenant
General Ed Smith and including a roster of international experts
with significant real-life experience, aimed at widening the
perspective of the participants and highlighting the international
nature of peacekeeping operations.


3. (SBU) According to a survey conducted at the outset of the
workshop, 55 percent of the seminar's participants agreed that
Vietnam was ready to make a useful contribution to UN peace
operations; 52 percent indicated that the people of Vietnam would

support overseas deployment of Vietnamese personnel in peace
operations. Military Observers and medical teams (with about 30
percent each) were cited as the most favored ways for Vietnam to
contribute to PKO, with staff officers and de-miners drawing ten
percent each. The respondents were more split, however, on the
question of what Vietnam could hope to gain from participation in
peacekeeping, with fulfilling international obligations (33
percent),gaining international influence and recognition (27
percent),and increasing the professionalism of troops and police
(23 percent) being the top selections. Lack of preparation (40
percent) and lack of language skills (20 percent) topped the list of
concerns about Vietnam's participation; others included putting
troops under foreign control (13 percent),fear of casualties (ten
percent),and cost (ten percent).

Conclusions from the Participants
--------------


4. (SBU) The final presentations from the seminar's two working
groups reflected some of the participants' initial views, but also
showed a deeper understanding of the complexity of international
peace operations. Both groups focused heavily on the need for
Vietnam to conduct extensive preparation activities in advance of
deploying peacekeepers, including building public support for PKO,
addressing legal obstacles by building a legal framework for
participation, translating UN PKO doctrine into Vietnamese,
developing policy and planning documents, providing appropriate
training to personnel, and studying lessons learned from other
countries. Many advocated increased participation in GPOI
activities as a path to gain experience and training, and to learn
from other troop contributing nations.


5. (SBU) The first group's final presentation explicitly stated
that Vietnam should actively participate in PKO, noting that PKO
activities follow logically from the country's increasing
international integration, it's participation on the UN Security
Council in particular. The group recommended that the GVN take
advantage of GPOI, begin its participation with UN Military
Observers, engineers, and medical teams, and use reimbursement funds
as an incentive to upgrade equipment and build future capacity. The
second group took a more cautious approach. Rather than providing
specific recommendations, the group presented three options for
Vietnam's participation in PKO: 1) to continue with present
activities to observe and assess PKO missions before committing; 2)

HANOI 00000424 002.2 OF 002


to expand present activities step-by-step by increasing
participation in PKO training opportunities, exchanging experiences
with neighboring countries, and translating and studying PKO
doctrine; and 3) to significantly expand present activities,
including developing a comprehensive plan for participation.


6. (SBU) Overall, there was a general consensus among the
participants that being a part of the conference changed their views
about peacekeeping operations. Speaking at the beginning of the
seminar, for example, one of the DAV's academic staff expressed
skepticism of UN peacekeeping in general, mentioning abuses by
peacekeepers in certain countries and stating that these soldiers
had contributed to violence, rather than peace. By the end of the
conference, however, the DAV academic told the group that she had
gained a better understanding about peacekeeping and now believes
such operations have a positive affect around the world. Other
participants echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that through
gaining a more thorough understanding of peacekeeping operations
they had also come away with a more favorable view of PKOs in
general.

Comment
--------------


7. (SBU) U.S. efforts to date have focused on encouraging Vietnam
to more actively participate in GPOI as the path to a contribution
to an ongoing UN peacekeeping mission. Over the course of the
workshop, however, it became clear that many participants still
lacked a basic understanding of UN peacekeeping, both as a general
concept as well as the technical aspects of contributing to an
operation. To give a simple example, many participants were
unfamiliar with basic peacekeeping terminology -- confusing an
observer at a military exercise with a UN Military Observer assigned
to a peacekeeping mission. This was not for lack of interest.
Presentation topics such as coordination with the UN Department of
Peacekeeping Operations, logistics, payment and reimbursement for
troop contributions, all drew many questions, and it was apparent
that most where hearing this information for the first time.


8. (SBU) Comment continued: We should continue to push Vietnam to
be a more robust participant in GPOI, but this must also include
more basic efforts to educate the GVN about UN peacekeeping in
general. In this sense, by raising awareness and by promoting
inter-ministerial coordination, the APCSS's high-quality workshop
directly contributed to USG efforts to encourage Vietnam to become
an active participant in UN peacekeeping. APCSS is building on its
already close relationship with the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
and is developing a reputation for being able to address critical
topics as an honest broker -- something few can claim. This
particular workshop was vital to continuing the momentum within the
GVN for participation in peacekeeping operations and Mission Vietnam
is grateful for the support of LTG (ret) Smith and his entire team.
End comment.


9. (U) The APCSS team did not have an opportunity to clear this
cable.

MICHALAK