Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HANOI875
2009-10-15 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:
New U.S. Approach toward Southeast Asia Opens Possibilities
how-toVZCZCXRO0615 RR RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHPB DE RUEHHI #0875 2880941 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 150940Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY HANOI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0310 INFO ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE RHMCSUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0022 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0007 RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0105 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HANOI 000875
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR MLS/EAP MARC FORINO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/10/15
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR ECON ASEAN BM VM
SUBJECT: New U.S. Approach toward Southeast Asia Opens Possibilities
for Cooperation on Burma
REF: A) HANOI 861; B) HANOI 859
CLASSIFIED BY: Virginia Palmer, Deputy Chief of Mission, State,
Hanoi; REASON: 1.4(B)
(C) Over lunch October 15 with MFA Americas Department Director
General Nguyen Ba Hung, DCM reiterated the USG interest in working
with Vietnam as 2010 chair of ASEAN to make progress on Burma and
asked Ba Hung if the GVN had any concrete ideas in this area. Ba
Hung welcomed the USG's Burma policy review, and particularly the
decision to include Burma in the U.S.-ASEAN Summit meeting. He
said the MFA is considering options for engagement, but would be in
a better position to discuss specifics after the November Summit.
Ba Hung, who accompanied Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister
Khiem during his meetings in Washington earlier this month,
stressed that Vietnam is willing to do its part to help on Burma.
Washington's new flexibility has created additional opportunities
for ASEAN and Vietnam to engage Burma, he said, adding that there
are strong indications the Burmese government wants to decrease its
dependence on China and increase engagement with other nations in
the region, particularly ASEAN countries. Burma "trusts" Vietnam.
This coupled with the new U.S. approach gives Vietnam greater scope
to influence Burma. In terms of next steps, Vietnam believes the
ball is in Burma's court to respond to the new U.S. approach and
overtures. It is important for Vietnam and ASEAN to see how Burma
responds. In response to the DCM's statement that the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) was key to progress in other areas, Ba Hung
said that during a recent visit to Burma (reftel A),a senior
Vietnamese delegation sent a "clear message" to Burmese leaders on
the need to pursue a "policy of reconciliation." In what could
have been a reference to ASSK, Ba Hung said "we Vietnamese have our
own way of conveying messages to governments like Burma."
Michalak