US embassy cable - 04HANOI962

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000962 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, OVIP, PHUM, MARR, VM, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT:  VFM BANG ON UPCOMING VISITS, HUMAN RIGHTS, SHIPS 
 
REF:  HANOI 816 
 
1.SBU) Summary.  In a meeting with the Ambassador, VFM Bang 
stated that a visit to the U.S. by Politburo member Phan 
Dien would be important to further progress in bilateral 
ties.  He welcomed upcoming visits by A/S Kelly, A/S Craner, 
and ASD Rodman for additional dialogue.   He claimed high 
level support for a further opening up of the Central 
Highlands, including by mission officers, and described 
plans to convene provincial officials to hear first-hand 
from central authorities about the GVN's commitment to 
religious freedom and greater openness.  He urged direct 
talks with MOD about details of upcoming ship visits.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (U) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM and Pol/C, briefed 
Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang on April 6 about recent 
consultations in Washington and upcoming events.  Bang was 
joined by Americas Department Deputy Director Nguyen Ba Hung 
and staffer Nguyen Hoanh Nam. 
 
Phan Dien 
--------- 
 
3.  (SBU) Ambassador noted overall support in Washington for 
a July visit by Politburo member Phan Dien, with details 
about exact timing, itinerary, and Washington appointments 
yet to be worked out.  VFM Bang called this trip the "right 
idea" at this time, and promised that it would "contribute 
to relations."  He suggested a July 5-15 timeframe.  He 
urged Ambassador to go along if possible, and noted that 
Ambassador Chien had suggested that Bang also accompany.  He 
confirmed that Phan Dien, while not  the Prime Minister, 
should be treated as a "very high" level visitor. 
 
4.  (SBU) Ambassador suggested further discussions soon on 
ways in which Vietnam could improve the climate for such a 
visit, including progress on human rights, commercial deals, 
and an Article 98 agreement.  Bang concurred with the 
desirability of such further talks, citing specifically US 
interest in the Article 98 agreement.  He noted that, from 
the GVN perspective, the meetings with National Security 
Adviser Rice and Secretary Powell were the top priority, 
whereas meetings with members of Congress, who would likely 
be out of session, were less important.  He stressed the 
need for both sides to share information about expected 
agenda items so that there are "no secrets, no surprises" 
during Phan Dien's discussions. 
 
Other visitors 
-------------- 
 
5.  (U)  Ambassador informed VFM Bang that A/S Kelly would 
like to visit Hanoi following the ARF SOM May 11/12 in order 
to have the next round of political dialogue.  Bang said 
that he was looking forward to the visit and would clear his 
calendar to welcome A/S Kelly personally.  Ambassador noted 
that A/S Craner likely would also come in the second or 
third week of May, not for a formal Human Rights Dialogue, 
but for an exchange of views on human rights and religious 
freedom.  Bang called for "serious talks" before Craner's 
visit in order to make this exchange "effective."  Finally, 
Ambassador noted ASD Rodman's likely June 4/5 visit, and 
expected calls at MFA, MOD, the MFA's Institute for 
International Relations, and the MPS' new research 
institute.  Bang indicated support for the visit. 
 
6.  (U)  VFM Bang also noted the upcoming visit to the U.S. 
of National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Phuc Thanh, and 
asked that the USG receive his delegation well.  Ambassador 
noted that we had invited the delegation to the residence 
before departure to answer any questions and to get a firmer 
sense of its priorities and intentions. 
 
Human rights and religion 
------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU)  Ambassador told Bang that he had discussed with 
Ambassador-at-large for Religious Freedom Hanford the 
possibility of designation of Vietnam as a "Country of 
Particular Concern" but that no decision had been reached 
yet.  He added that he had met with Chairman Thi of the 
Government Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) just before 
going to Washington and was seeking another meeting soon. 
Bang noted that he himself had recently met with Chairman 
Thi to discuss religious freedom issues.  Bang said he had 
also met with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Vice 
Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong to discuss the 
situation in the Central Highlands.  They agreed that the 
situation was "good" and that Vietnam should have "nothing 
to hide."   They agreed that the policy and reality is that 
Vietnam should be more "open" and let visitors travel to the 
Central Highlands more freely.  He noted that he had agreed 
for poloffs to go to the Central Highlands soon.   (Note: 
there will be a joint Embassy/ConGen reporting trip over the 
Easter holiday.  End note) He added that the Ambassadors of 
Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand, and Canada would also soon 
travel to the Central Highlands. 
 
8.  (U) Ambassador noted credible new reports of additional 
church closures, arrests, and beatings in Kontum and 
elsewhere, indicating at the very least a "disconnect" at 
the provincial or district level about implementation of GVN 
policy.  VFM Bang agreed that this was a problem, and said 
that there would soon be a meeting at which central GVN 
leaders would clarify policy to provincial leaders from the 
Central and Northwest Highlands and try to ensure that local 
officials did not violate the official policy of the GVN and 
CPV regarding freedom of religion.  He expressed thanks for 
the "patience and considerate opinion" of the Ambassador and 
Embassy staff regarding human rights issues; although the 
Embassy was often critical, it was fair, he admitted.  He 
stressed Vietnam's progress over the longer term, but cited 
a remaining problem with a "small group of people" who have 
yet to "work in cooperation."  He promised that the GVN 
would attempt to "persuade" rather than jail them.  (Note: 
Bang's reference was not clear, but presumably was about 
unrecognized evangelists and house church leaders, as well 
possibly at some of the Dega separatist leaders. End note) 
 
Ship visits 
----------- 
 
9.  (U) Ambassador described his recent discussions with 
PACOM, and expressed appreciation that the GVN had 
"postponed" the April ship visit until the second half of 
the year, rather than "canceling" it.  He urged additional 
talks at the working level to determine just how many visits 
per year would be possible (while encouraging the GVN to 
agree to two), their timing, desired sites, and other 
details.  VFM Bang expressed MFA support for ship visits, 
but urged the Embassy to be in direct contact with MOD and 
MPS. 
 
10.  (SBU) Comment:  We need to pin down as quickly as 
possible the details of the upcoming US visitors and decide 
upon our own priorities for discussion.  On the political 
dialogue (for which the MFA as host will have the first 
crack at an agenda), we have encouraged that the focus be as 
much as possible on larger strategic issues -- China's role, 
Korean peninsula, South China Sea, etc. -- while leaving the 
human rights dimension for A/S Craner's more focused 
exchanges.  VFM Bang is clearly eager for a successful Phan 
Dien visit, but also nervous lest it go wrong and put Phan 
Dien in an awkward or embarrassing position.  Having seen 
Phan Dien in action responding to human rights issues, we 
are less worried about this than Bang, however, and predict 
that he will be able to hold his own on the whole range of 
issues in the bilateral relationship. 
BURGHARDT