US embassy cable - 05HANOI92

UNCLAS HANOI 000092 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PASS TO EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KIRF, OTRA, OVIP, VM, HUMANR, RELFREE 
SUBJECT: VFM LE VAN BANG OFFERS AMBASSADOR POSSIBLE GOOD 
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM NEWS, PROPOSES DATES FOR A PM VISIT 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: In a pull-aside meeting at the Asia 
Pacific Parliamentary Forum in Halong City January 10, Vice 
Foreign Minister Le Van Bang passed the Ambassador proposed 
dates in late June 2005 for a visit to the United States by 
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and outlined three steps the 
GVN believed "could be done" on religious freedom, including 
the release of Father Ly and the opening of new churches in 
the Central Highlands.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Ambassador and Vice Foreign Minister Le Van 
Bang met on the margins of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary 
Forum in Halong City (septel) January 10.  VFM Bang said he 
had traveled to Jakarta with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai 
for the tsunami-related summit meeting, and during that 
visit they had discussed the PM's possible trip to the 
United States.  PM Khai, VFM Bang said, would like to visit 
the United States during the June 20-30 2005 timeframe.  The 
PM's visit (the length of which is to be determined but 
which will probably not be a ten-day visit) would include 
Seattle, New York and Washington, DC, VFM Bang said.  The 
GVN remains interested in a joint statement or other 
document summarizing the long-term framework for the 
bilateral relationship, he added, noting that the visit 
could be the occasion for the signing of documents "or other 
notable progress" on "commercial and economic issues of 
interest to the United States." 
 
3. (SBU) Turning to the "CPC" decision, VFM Bang said the 
GVN is considering "three actions that could be 
accomplished" to improve religious freedom in Vietnam: the 
release of a "prominent figure such as Father Ly"; the 
opening of more churches and "allowing more space for 
unregistered groups to conduct religious activities" in the 
Central Highlands; and the release of implementing 
regulations for the ordinance on religion that would contain 
"clear language" making interference with the right to 
worship or belief criminally punishable.  The Ambassador 
said that all of these actions would be welcome, as would 
other steps, including allowing the leaders of the Unified 
Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) to travel freely.  The 
Ambassador noted UBCV's Thich Quang Do's desire to travel to 
Binh Dinh Province to visit Thich Huyen Quang during the 
Vietnamese New Year holiday in February.  VFM Bang said he 
would look into it. 
 
4. (SBU) VFM Bang closed by saying that he still hopes to 
visit Washington in March to work on the PM's trip.  He 
added that Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan would be prepared 
to make another advance trip in May. 
MARINE