Joint Demarche Delivered on Preparations for Third Sherpa

UNCLAS HANOI 000106

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMBASSADOR BONNIE JENKINS (ISN/TR),LAURA HOLGATE (NSC) AND JOYCE CONNERY (NSC)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM EAID TBIO IAEA AORC CDG ENRG MNUC PGOV PREL VM
SUBJECT: Joint Demarche Delivered on Preparations for Third Sherpa
Meeting and April Nuclear Security Summit

REF: REF. A) 10 STATE 7493; REF. B) 10 STATE 5891; REF. C) HANOI 03


1. (SBU) On January 27, PolOff, together with the Dutch Charge
Collett, met with MFA International Organizations Assistant
Director General Do Hung Viet to deliver reftel A demarche
regarding the Third Sherpa Meeting in the Hague on February 9-11.
PolOff and Collett highlighted the importance of the Third Sherpa
Meeting and encouraged Vietnam to participate actively in the
formulation of the draft Communiqu???? and Work Plan. Viet, who will
attend the Sherpa Meeting with the Vietnamese Ambassador to the
Netherlands and a senior official from the Ministry of Science and
Technology, noted that Vietnam placed great importance on the
Sherpa meetings, as evidenced by its high-level attendance at past
meetings. Viet added that the delegation looks forward to being
active participants in the process. Poloff and Viet agreed to meet
after Viet's return from the Sherpa Meeting to exchange views.




2. (SBU) Following the departure of the Dutch Charge, Poloff and
Viet turned their discussion specifically to the April Nuclear
Security Summit. Poloff relayed reftel B points, stressing that
the Summit will focus narrowly on the security of nuclear materials
and build on existing mechanisms, not create new nuclear
initiatives. Viet said the GVN was well-aware of the Summit's
focus and objectives, and noted PM Dung was looking forward to
participating. MFA Director General for International
Organizations Trung will accompany the PM. Not surprisingly, Viet
reiterated PM Dung would seek an Oval Office meeting during his
visit to Washington, as well as a meeting with the Secretary.
(Comment: During their January 13 lunch, Vice Foreign Minister Pham
Binh Minh told the Ambassador that PM Dung was interested in
arranging a bilateral program during his visit to Washington,
including a meeting with the President. The Ambassador said he
would relay the request, but was non-committal reftel C. End
comment.)




3. (SBU) Poloff then informed Viet that ISN DAS Kang would visit
Vietnam during the week of March 8 to discuss non-proliferation
matters with the GVN. Viet welcomed the visit as a useful
opportunity to exchange views on non-proliferation issues before
the Summit. Viet concluded the meeting by expressing appreciation
for the Embassy and Washington's close coordination Summit-related
matters, offering "your consistent communication is appreciated and
has made the process less complicated."
Michalak