US embassy cable - 04HANOI1193

UNCLAS HANOI 001193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, INL/AAE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, PREL, VM, CNARC 
SUBJECT:  COUNTERNARCOTICS LOA: NOW IN EFFECT 
 
1.  (U)  In a diplomatic note dated April 26, the MFA 
officially informed Embassy that the Counternarcotics Letter 
of Agreement signed in English in December 2003 and in 
Vietnamese in February 2004 is now in effect.  (Text in para 
3.) 
 
2.  (U)  Embassy will now work with the Standing Office of 
Drug Control on details of program implementation.  A team 
from US Customs plans first to come to Hanoi in early June 
to discuss its project under the LOA.  Embassy cautions, 
however, that this agreement is limited: it allows for U.S.- 
Vietnam cooperation in the area of training and assistance 
only.  Actual operational cooperation is not covered.  While 
the agreement is definitely a step in the right direction, 
we remain a long way from real bilateral counternarcotics 
cooperation with the GVN. 
 
3.  (U)  Text (MFA's non-official translation) 
No. 159/NG-LPQT 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam presents its compliments to the Embassy of the 
United States of America in Hanoi and with reference to the 
Letter of Agreement on Counternarcotics Cooperation between 
the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the 
Government of the United States of America, signed in 
duplicate in the English language at Los Angeles on 11th 
December 2003 and in duplicate in the Vietnamese language at 
Hanoi on 26th February 2004, has the honor to inform the 
latter as follows: 
 
In accordance with Paragraph 10 thereof, this Letter of 
Agreement entered into force when signed by authorized 
representative of both Governments, i.e. on 26th February 
2004. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has further the honor to 
notify the latter that, for the Government of the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam, the Contact Authority for the 
implementation of this Letter of Agreement is the Standing 
Office on Drug Control, Ministry of Public Security. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the 
Embassy of the United States of America in Hanoi the 
assurances of its highest consideration. 
 
Hanoi, 26 April 2004 
end text 
BURGHARDT