US embassy cable - 02HANOI589

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 HANOI 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, INR, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP, L/UNA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, SOCI, EAID, ECON, VM, UN, HUMANR, APEC, ASEAN 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S INCREASING ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
--       AND MULTILATERAL COMMUNITY 
 
 
1.  (U)  SUMMARY.  VIETNAM HAS MOVED STEADILY TO INCREASE 
ITS PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL AND MULTILATERAL FORA 
SINCE THE COMMUNIST PARTY (CPV) DIRECTED THE GVN TO 
IMPLEMENT A MORE OUTWARD ORIENTED FOREIGN POLICY AT THE 
SEVENTH PARTY CONGRESS IN 1991.  TODAY, VIETNAM HAS 
MEMBERSHIP IN 62 GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.  THE GVN 
LEADERSHIP VIEWS THIS PARTICIPATION AS A MEANS TO ADVANCE 
NATIONAL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS AND TO DIVERSIFY 
THE FOCI OF ITS FOREIGN POLICY. )  THIS PARTICIPATION WILL 
LIKELY ENHANCE VIETNAM'S UNDERSTANDING OF INTERNATIONAL 
NORMS AND VALUES, AND ADD MOMENTUM BOTH TO THE EVOLUTION OF 
A MORE PROFESSIONAL -- RATHER THAN IDEOLOGICAL -- BODY OF 
OFFICIALS AS WELL AS TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL 
SOCIETY WITHIN VIETNAM.  A LACK OF MATERIAL AND HUMAN 
RESOURCES, INCLUDING GOOD ENGLISH SPEAKERS, HAS LIMITED 
VIETNAM'S PARTICIPATION AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR THE 
FORESEEABLE FUTURE.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
THE PARTY ESTABLISHES THE POLICY FRAMEWORK 
------------------------------------------ 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00589  01 OF 06  141020Z 
2.  (U)  DURING THE SEVENTH PARTY CONGRESS IN 1991, 
VIETNAM'S LEADERSHIP DECLARED THAT THE TIME HAD COME TO 
EXPAND ITS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS.  AS STATED IN THE 
CONGRESS' POLITICAL REPORT, THE CPV LEADERSHIP WAS 
DETERMINED HENCEFORTH TO EMBARK ON A MORE OUTWARD FOREIGN 
POLICY, DECLARING IT WOULD COOPERATE WITH ALL COUNTRIES ON 
THE BASIS OF "EQUALITY AND MUTUAL BENEFITS, REGARDLESS OF 
DIFFERENT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL REGIMES."  THE REPORT FURTHER 
STATED THAT VIETNAM WOULD STRIVE "TO BE FRIENDS WITH ALL 
COUNTRIES. . ." AND AFFIRMED VIETNAM'S SUPPORT FOR THE UN 
MORE DEFINITIVELY THAN HAD THE PREVIOUS CONGRESS.  IT 
PLEDGED THAT VIETNAM WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE UN AND 
COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, UN SPECIALIZED 
AGENCIES, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO). 
 
3.  (U)  THIS POLICY MARKED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE FROM THE 
SIXTH PARTY CONGRESS OF 1986, WHICH ONLY REFERRED TO 
PROMOTING RELATIONSHIPS AND COOPERATION WITH SPECIFIC 
COUNTRIES, SUCH AS THE SOVIET UNION AND A FEW OTHER 
"TRADITIONAL FRIENDS."  (NOTE:  THE TERM "TRADITIONAL" IN 
THE VIETNAMESE CONTEXT REFERS TO COUNTRIES, PRIMARILY 
SOCIALIST, WITH WHICH VIETNAM HAD LONG-STANDING 
RELATIONSHIPS, SUCH AS THE THEN-USSR, LAOS, IRAQ, AND THE 
EASTERN EUROPE BLOC.  END NOTE.) 
 
4.  (U)  DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN TAN DZUNG REAFFIRMED 
IN FEBRUARY 2002 THAT VIETNAM WOULD PURSUE A POLICY OF 
"MULTILATERALIZATION."  LAST NOVEMBER, FOREIGN MINISTER 
NGUYEN DY NIEN ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR VIETNAM TO 
PROMOTE A "DIVERSE" FOREIGN POLICY AND TO INCREASE ITS ROLE 
IN THE "INTERNATIONAL ARENA."  HE PLEDGED THAT VIETNAM WOULD 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00589  01 OF 06  141020Z 
CONTINUE TO HOST "IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES" AND 
STRIVE TOWARD WTO ACCESSION.  HE NOTED THAT, DURING 2001, 
VIETNAM HAD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN "MANY" UN AND OTHER 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS' ACTIVITIES. 
 
5.  (U)  ACCORDING TO PHAM QUANG VINH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF 
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 
DEPARTMENT (MFA/IO), TWO IMPORTANT FACTORS SPARKED THIS 
SEMINAL CHANGE:  (1) THE END OF VIETNAM'S INVOLVEMENT IN 
CAMBODIA RESULTED IN THE LIFTING OF REGIONAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AND LED TO MORE NORMAL RELATIONS 
BETWEEN VIETNAM AND OTHER NATIONS;  (2) THE SOVIET UNION 
DISSOLVED BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH PARTY CONGRESSES, 
CHANGING THE DYNAMIC OF VIETNAM'S FOREIGN POLICY.  WITH THE 
FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION, VIETNAM COULD NO LONGER BENEFIT 
FROM ANY CLIENT STATUS.  THESE FACTORS, COMBINED WITH THE 
"DOI MOI" (ECONOMIC RENOVATION) POLICY ADOPTED IN 1986, 
INFLUENCED VIETNAM TO MOVE FROM A "RELATIVELY ISOLATED 
PERSPECTIVE TO ONE THAT WAS MORE OUTWARD LOOKING," VINH 
CONCLUDED.  HE ALSO SAID THAT, AS VIETNAM EXTENDED ITS 
BILATERAL RELATIONS, THIS "LED TO A CORRESPONDING INCREASE 
IN MULTILATERAL PARTICIPATION." 
 
6.  (U)  TRAN TRONG GIAP, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT 
OF ASIA, AFRICA, AND LATIN AMERICA OF THE VIETNAM UNION OF 
FRIENDSHIP ORGANIZATIONS, STATED SEPARATELY THAT THE SEVENTH 
PARTY CONGRESS "CORRECTLY REACTED TO THE CHANGING WORLD 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO3916 
 
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ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AIT-03   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  INL-00   USNW-00  DOEE-00  ITCE-00  DOTE-00 
      SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    ED-01    EXME-00  EUR-00 
      E-00     FAAE-00  FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      MOFM-05  MOF-01   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  EPAE-00 
      ECA-00   PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
      SWCI-00    /022W 
                  ------------------7463E3  141021Z /38 
R 140954Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5790 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AIT TAIPEI 0670 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ABLAGG// 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00589  02 OF 06  141020Z 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 06 HANOI 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, INR, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP, L/UNA 
 
ENVIRONMENT."  HE NOTED THAT ONCE THE CPV SET THE POLICY, 
STATE DIPLOMACY HAS "DONE ITS BEST" TO IMPLEMENT IT.  DR. LE 
THI QUE, DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AT THE 
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, NOTED THAT PARTICIPATION IN 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WAS "VERY IMPORTANT" AS A WAY 
FOR VIETNAM TO MAKE ITS VOICE HEARD.  "IN THE ERA OF 
GLOBALIZATION, NO ONE CAN AFFORD TO BE ISOLATED," HE 
STRESSED. 
 
7.  (U)  WORLD BANK SENIOR ECONOMIST PHAM MINH DUC NOTED 
THAT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AS VIETNAM HAD BECOME MORE OPEN 
ECONOMICALLY AND POLITICALLY, IT HAD BECOME MUCH MORE 
INTERESTED IN REACHING OUT TO INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
DUC SAID THAT HE HAD SEEN A CHANGE IN THE GVN'S PERCEPTION 
OF THE WORLD BANK FROM A STRICTLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO 
ONE THAT ALSO PROVIDES ADVICE AND COORDINATES PROJECTS.  THE 
GVN NOW VIEWS THE WORLD BANK MORE AS A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER 
AND LESS AS JUST A FINANCIER, DUC CONCLUDED. 
 
-------------- 
KEY MILESTONES 
-------------- 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00589  02 OF 06  141020Z 
8.  (U)  NGO QUANG XUAN, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE MFA'S 
DEPARTMENT OF MULTILATERAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION, EMPHASIZED 
SEVERAL KEY MILESTONES OF THE EARLY AND MID-1990S THAT 
INFLUENCED VIETNAM'S INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN 
INTERNATIONAL AND MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS:  (1) VIETNAM'S 
JOINING ASEAN; (2) MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC 
AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC); (3) A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT WITH 
THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU); AND, (4) DIPLOMATIC NORMALIZATION 
WITH THE UNITED STATES.  ACCORDING TO XUAN, THESE EVENTS 
PUSHED VIETNAM (BACK) INTO THE INTERNATIONAL MAINSTREAM AND 
ENABLED THE COUNTRY TO EXPAND ITS PARTICIPATION IN "KEY 
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS."  DURING THIS PERIOD, VIETNAM 
ALSO SERVED AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S 
52ND SESSION.  "SUCH ACTIVITY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE 
WITHOUT THE SEVENTH PARTY CONGRESS POLICY CHANGES," 
CONCLUDED XUAN.  COLONEL TRAN NHUNG, INTERNATIONAL 
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OF THE "PEOPLE'S ARMY" NEWSPAPER, 
SUGGESTED SEPARATELY THAT JOINING THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC 
COOPERATION (APEC) FORUM IN 1998 WAS ANOTHER IMPORTANT EVENT 
THAT INCREASED VIETNAM'S PROFILE IN A MULTILATERAL FORUM. 
 
9.  (U)  THE MFA/IO'S VINH ADDED THAT VIETNAM'S ELECTION TO 
THE UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP) GOVERNING BOARD IN 1998 
WAS ALSO SIGNIFICANT, DUE TO THE LEADING ROLE UNDP PLAYS IN 
THE MULTILATERAL COMMUNITY IN VIETNAM.  HE ALSO NOTED THE 
IMPORTANCE OF VIETNAM'S ELECTION TO THE UNICEF EXECUTIVE 
COUNCIL IN 1996, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE UNICEF'S PROGRAMS ARE 
IMPORTANT TO THE GVN'S OVERALL SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS. 
DISCUSSING THE GVN'S LONG-RANGE GOAL IN THE MULTILATERAL 
SYSTEM, VINH SAID THAT THE GVN WILL TRY FOR ELECTION TO THE 
UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN 2007.  HOWEVER, THIS WILL BE "VERY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00589  02 OF 06  141020Z 
COMPLICATED AND REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK AND PREPARATION," HE 
ADDED. 
 
10.  (U)  ACCORDING TO DR. NGUYEN THIET SON, DIRECTOR OF THE 
CENTRE FOR NORTH AMERICA STUDIES, DIPLOMATIC NORMALIZATION 
WITH THE U.S. IN 1995 GAVE GVN AND CPV LEADERSHIP MORE 
CONFIDENCE THAT VIETNAM COULD ASSUME A LARGER MULTILATERAL 
ROLE.  COLONEL NHUNG STATED SEPARATELY THAT WHILE THE U.S. 
AND VIETNAM CONTINUE TO HAVE DISAGREEMENTS OVER VARIOUS 
ISSUES, ESPECIALLY HUMAN RIGHTS, THE TWO COUNTRIES COOPERATE 
WELL IN A NUMBER OF AREAS.  AS THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION WITH 
THE U.S. HAS INCREASED, SO HAS VIETNAM'S INTEREST IN WORKING 
WITH INTERNATIONAL AND MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS, HE 
OBSERVED. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
ASEAN: REGIONAL STAGE WITH A BILATERAL TWIST 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
11. (U)  VIETNAM JOINED ASEAN IN JULY 1995 AS ITS SEVENTH 
MEMBER.  ACCORDING TO PROFESSOR CARLYLE THAYER OF THE ASIA 
PACIFIC CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, VIETNAM MOVED RAPIDLY 
TO NORMALIZE ITS REGIONAL RELATIONS AFTER THE CAMBODIA ISSUE 
WAS RESOLVED, GIVING PRIORITY TO RELATIONS WITH ASEAN 
COUNTRIES AND WITH CHINA.  MEMBERSHIP IN ASEAN ENHANCED 
VIETNAM'S DIPLOMATIC STANDING AND CREATED FAVORABLE 
CONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THAYER CONTINUED. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO3919 
 
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      E-00     FAAE-00  FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      MOFM-05  MOF-01   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  EPAE-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00 
        /022W 
                  ------------------7463F4  141021Z /38 
R 140954Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5791 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AIT TAIPEI 0671 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ABLAGG// 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00589  03 OF 06  141021Z 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 06 HANOI 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, INR, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP, L/UNA 
 
THAYER ALSO NOTED THAT POLICY MAKERS IN VIETNAM VIEWED 
MEMBERSHIP IN ASEAN AS PROVIDING SOME "COVER" FOR CERTAIN 
ISSUES OF CONCERN TO THE WEST, SUCH AS HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
DEMOCRATIZATION.  COLONEL NHUNG OF "PEOPLE'S ARMY" NOTED 
THAT ASEAN HAD ALSO BEEN AN "IMPORTANT FORUM" FOR VIETNAM TO 
ADDRESS REGIONAL SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.  HE 
POINTED TO THE FEBRUARY 2002 ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' 
MEETING IN PHUKET, WHICH HAD RATIFIED A PLAN TO ASSIST 
VIETNAM, LAOS, BURMA, AND CAMBODIA (THE FOUR NEWEST AND 
LEAST DEVELOPED ASEAN MEMBERS) TO CLOSE THE "DEVELOPMENT 
GAP" BETWEEN THEM AND OTHER ASEAN NATIONS. 
 
12.  (U)  LE LINH LAN, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR EUROPEAN 
AND AMERICAN STUDIES AT THE MFA'S INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL 
RELATIONS (IIR), ALSO NOTED THE POSITIVE SECURITY IMPACT OF 
ASEAN AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO VIETNAM.  LAN POINTED TO THE 
34TH ASEAN MINISTERIAL MEETING IN HANOI LAST JULY, WHICH 
REAFFIRMED THE HIGH COUNCIL'S MANDATE TO FACILITATE THE 
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES THROUGH "REGIONAL 
PROCESSES." 
 
13.  (U)  MFA ASEAN DEPARTMENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR TRAN DUC BINH 
SAID THAT VIETNAM'S INCREASINGLY PROMINENT ROLE IN ASEAN WAS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00589  03 OF 06  141021Z 
A "SOURCE OF PRIDE" TO THE GVN LEADERSHIP.  HE POINTED 
ESPECIALLY TO THE SIXTH ASEAN SUMMIT, 34TH ASEAN FOREIGN 
MINISTERS' MEETING, AND 8TH ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM, ALL HELD 
IN HANOI AND ORGANIZED BY VIETNAM AS THE ASEAN CHAIRMAN. 
BINH SAID THAT VIETNAM WAS ALSO "VERY PLEASED" TO CO-CHAIR 
THE U.S.-ASEAN DIALOGUE HELD IN WASHINGTON IN NOVEMBER 2001. 
 
14.  (U)  VIETNAM'S ASEAN PARTICIPATION HAS ALSO PROVIDED A 
PLATFORM FOR INCREASING BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE THE 
REGION.  AT THE DECEMBER 2000 EU-ASEAN BILATERAL MEETINGS, 
FOREIGN MINISTER NIEN HELD TALKS WITH EU COUNTERPARTS FROM 
FRANCE, ITALY, IRELAND, AND SPAIN IN AN EFFORT TO 
"ACCELERATE" ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN AREAS SUCH AS TRADE, 
INVESTMENT, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.  THIS TYPE OF 
ACTIVITY IS IN LINE WITH THE GVN POLICY OF IMPROVING ITS 
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH AS MANY COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE. 
 
----------------- 
APEC FILLS A NEED 
----------------- 
 
15.  (U)  VIETNAM BECAME A FULL APEC MEMBER IN 1998. 
COLONEL NHUNG OF "PEOPLE'S ARMY" DESCRIBED VIETNAM'S 
PARTICIPATION IN THE ORGANIZATION AS "ACTIVE," ESPECIALLY IN 
THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR.  IN MARCH 2002, VIETNAM HOSTED THE 
25TH APEC TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION WORKING GROUP 
MEETING; IN APRIL 2001, VIETNAM HOSTED THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL 
SERVICE AND TECHNOLOGY WORKING GROUP.  AT THAT MEETING, 
MINISTER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENT CHU TUAN 
NHA SAID THAT TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF THE GVN'S 
"TOP POLICY PRIORITIES."  AT THE EIGHTH APEC SUMMIT IN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00589  03 OF 06  141021Z 
NOVEMBER 2000, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN MANH CAM 
STRESSED THE NEED FOR TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION AMONG APEC 
MEMBERS.  IN ADDITION, HE NOTED THAT APEC ACTIVITIES SHOULD 
HELP PREPARE VIETNAM FOR ACCESSION TO THE WTO.  ACCORDING TO 
COLONEL NHUNG, APEC IS A GOOD MATCH FOR VIETNAM'S INTERESTS, 
BECAUSE VIETNAM IS ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERTISE OF 
MEMBERS WITH MORE DEVELOPED ECONOMIES, SUCH AS THE U.S., 
JAPAN, AND AUSTRALIA. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
EU PROVIDES A MARKET, A WINDOW TO EUROPE, AND ASSISTANCE 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
16.  (U)  ANOTHER IMPORTANT MULTILATERAL ACCOMPLISHMENT 
DURING THE 1990S WAS THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN 
THE EU AND VIETNAM IN JULY 1995.  THIS AGREEMENT FOLLOWED 
OTHER EU-GVN MILESTONES, INCLUDING (1) NORMALIZATION OF 
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN NOVEMBER 1990; AND, (2) THE TEXTILE 
AND CLOTHING AGREEMENTS SIGNED IN 1992 AND SUBSEQUENTLY 
AMENDED/RENEWED SEVERAL TIMES.  THESE AGREEMENTS ALLOWED 
VIETNAM GREATER ACCESS TO EU MARKETS.  ACCORDING TO 
PROFESSOR BUI HUY KHOAT, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR 
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU 
HAS PROVEN "VERY IMPORTANT" TO VIETNAM.  HE OBSERVED THAT 
THE ENHANCED ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP HAD LED TO STRONGER 
POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH EU COUNTRIES. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO3920 
 
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ACTION AF-00 
 
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      SRPP-00  DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    ED-01    EXME-00  EUR-00 
      E-00     FAAE-00  FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      MOFM-05  MOF-01   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    IRM-00   SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00 
      R-00     PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00 
      SWCI-00    /022W 
                  ------------------746402  141021Z /38 
R 140954Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5792 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AIT TAIPEI 0672 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ABLAGG// 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00589  04 OF 06  141021Z 
UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 06 HANOI 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, INR, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP, L/UNA 
 
17.  (U)  IN ADDITION TO TRADE AND POLITICAL BENEFITS, THE 
GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU ADVANCES GVN SOCIAL AND 
DEVELOPMENT GOALS.  IN THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, 
THE EU (ALONG WITH OTHER INTERNATIONAL DONORS) SUPPORTS 
PROJECTS IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION, REFORESTATION, AND 
"POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN THE LEAST FAVORED RURAL AND 
MOUNTAINOUS AREAS," ALL BASIC GVN DEVELOPMENT GOALS. 
 
18.  (U)  DESPITE A GENERALLY POSITIVE PICTURE, THE VIETNAM- 
EU RELATIONSHIP HAS EXPERIENCED A FEW BUMPS ALONG THE ROAD, 
PARTICULARLY CONCERNING HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY.  EU 
COMMISSIONER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS CHRIS PATTEN EXPRESSED 
"CONCERN" ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN VIETNAM IN 
JULY 2001.  THE EU FOLLOWED WITH A STRONGER STATEMENT AT THE 
NOVEMBER JOINT COMMISSION MEETING, EXPLICITLY CITING 
PROBLEMS WITH FREEDOM OF OPINION AND RELIGION, THE SITUATION 
OF ETHNIC MINORITIES, AND CONTINUED APPLICATION OF THE DEATH 
PENALTY.  THE GVN RESPONDED FORCEFULLY TO THIS STATEMENT, 
CLAIMING IT DID "NOT REFLECT REALITY." 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
ECOSOC:  A HIGH PROFILE MULTILATERAL PLATFORM 
--------------------------------------------- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00589  04 OF 06  141021Z 
 
19.  (U)  ACCORDING TO THE IIR'S LAN, SERVING AS AN ECOSOC 
MEMBER FOR THREE YEARS (1997-2000) PROVIDED VIETNAM WITH "AN 
IMPORTANT AND PRESTIGIOUS WINDOW" TO MAKE ITS VIEWS ABOUT 
THE UN AND DEVELOPMENT KNOWN TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. 
ON JULY 17, 2000, NGUYEN XUAN ANG, VIETNAM'S THEN- 
REPRESENTATIVE AT ECOSOC, TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT UN PROGRAMS 
IN VIETNAM HAD BEEN EFFECTIVE, THAT THE RESOURCES PROVIDED 
UNDER THOSE PROGRAMS HAD BEEN WELL USED, AND THAT THEY WILL 
HELP VIETNAM ACHIEVE "POVERTY ERADICATION BY 2010," ONE OF 
THE GVN'S PRIMARY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS.  ANG EMPHASIZED 
THAT VIETNAM WOULD CONTINUE TO "FULLY COOPERATE" WITH UN 
PROGRAMS.  IN A SPEECH AT A JULY 1999 ECOSOC HIGH LEVEL 
SEGMENT, THEN-DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER NIEN PRAISED THE WORK 
OF THE COUNCIL AND NOTED ITS IMPORTANCE TO ADDRESSING THE 
NEEDS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING VIETNAM. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS:  TRYING TO HEAD OFF CRITICISM 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
20.  (U)  HOANG BICH LIEN, SENIOR EXPERT IN MFA/IO FOR HUMAN 
RIGHTS, SAID THAT VIETNAM'S ELECTION TO A THREE YEAR TERM ON 
THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN 2000 WAS AN "IMPORTANT 
STEP"  AND PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VIETNAM TO "SHOW" 
THAT IT HAS A GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.  OTHER OBSERVERS 
HAVE NOTED THAT ITS SEAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO VIETNAM AS A 
WAY TO PRE-EMPT CRITICISM OF ITS DOMESTIC HUMAN RIGHTS 
SITUATION, HOWEVER.  IN 2001, VIETNAM PARTICIPATED IN THE 
COMMISSION FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A FULL MEMBER.  (NOTE: 
ACCORDING TO THE US MISSION IN GENEVA, THE GVN DELEGATION 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00589  04 OF 06  141021Z 
KEPT A "VERY LOW PROFILE" DURING COMMISSION SESSIONS.  THE 
MISSION CHARACTERIZED VIETNAM'S PARTICIPATION AS "PASSIVE." 
END NOTE.) 
 
------------------------------------- 
STRONG GVN-UN DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONS 
------------------------------------- 
 
21.  (U)  COLONEL NHUNG NOTED THAT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, 
THE UN HAS MADE "GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS" TO VIETNAM'S 
DEVELOPMENT.  GVN LEADERS IN GENERAL HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED 
WITH UN PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, AND, FOR THE MOST PART, THE 
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN "FREE OF CORRUPTION," SOMETHING THAT IS 
NOT ALWAYS TRUE FOR BILATERAL PROJECTS, NHUNG ADDED. 
 
22.  (U) SEVERAL RESIDENT UN REPRESENTATIVES GAVE THE GVN 
HIGH MARKS AS A PARTNER.  DR. DORIS BUDDENBERG, RESIDENT 
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL PROGRAM 
(UNDCP), SAID THAT SHE HAS EXCELLENT RELATIONS WITH HER GVN 
COUNTERPARTS AND HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE CROP 
SUBSTITUTION EFFORTS OF THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND 
RURAL DEVELOPMENT. 
 
23.  (U)  ROSAMARIA DURAND, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UN 
EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO) 
VIETNAM OFFICE, SAID SEPARATELY THAT THE NATIONAL COMMISSION 
FOR UNESCO IN VIETNAM (ORGANIZATIONALLY UNDER THE MFA) LOOKS 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO3923 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  00589  05 OF 06  141021Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AIT-03   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  USNW-00  DOEE-00  ITCE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00 
      DS-00    EAP-00   EB-00    ED-01    EXME-00  EUR-00   OIGO-00 
      E-00     FAAE-00  FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01 
      H-01     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00 
      MOFM-05  MOF-01   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01 
      OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00 
      SP-00    SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00 
      EPAE-00  PMB-00   DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00 
      SAS-00   SWCI-00    /022W 
                  ------------------746415  141022Z /38 
R 140954Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5793 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AIT TAIPEI 0673 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ABLAGG// 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00589  05 OF 06  141021Z 
UNCLAS SECTION 05 OF 06 HANOI 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, INR, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP, L/UNA 
 
WELL AFTER UNESCO'S INTERESTS.  SHE PRAISED THE FOREIGN 
MINISTER FOR HAVING "STRONGLY SUPPORTED" UNESCO ACTIVITIES 
IN VIETNAM.  AT UNESCO'S 31ST SESSION IN OCTOBER 2001, DPM 
PHAM GIA KHIEM EXPRESSED THE GVN'S DESIRE TO SERVE ON THE 
UNESCO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.  VIETNAM'S SUCCESS IN WINNING A 
PLACE ON THE COUNCIL SIGNALED ITS DESIRE TO BE MORE ACTIVE 
IN THE ORGANIZATION, ACCORDING TO DURAND. 
 
24.  (U)  UN POPULATION FUND (UNFPA) VIETNAM REPRESENTATIVE 
OMER ERTUR STATED SEPARATELY THAT, FROM UNFPA'S PERSPECTIVE, 
VIETNAM HAS BEEN A GOOD PARTNER FOR ITS PROJECTS.  HE 
DESCRIBED VIETNAM AS A "MOBILIZATION" SOCIETY; ONCE THE GVN 
DECIDED TO TAKE A SERIOUS APPROACH TO THE POPULATION 
PROBLEM, THE "MASS ORGANIZATIONS TOOK OVER" AND CONVINCED 
THE POPULATION THAT THIS WAS THE POLICY OF THE FUTURE.  IN 
GENERAL, HE SAID, THE GVN VIEWS UNFPA AND ITS PROGRAMS AS 
"VERY IMPORTANT" TO ITS OWN POLICIES. 
 
25.  (U)  FORMER UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE MORTEN GIERSING SAID 
BEFORE HE LEFT HIS POST IN DECEMBER 2001 THAT HE VIEWED HIS 
EXPERIENCE WITH THE GVN AS "VERY POSITIVE."  ACCORDING TO 
GIERSING, SINCE UNICEF PROJECTS ARE DEVELOPED WITH 
SIGNIFICANT INPUT FROM THE GVN, THERE IS GENERALLY A "BUY- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00589  05 OF 06  141021Z 
IN" AT THE SENIOR LEVELS AND RELATIVELY GOOD MINISTERIAL 
COORDINATION.  HE CLAIMED THAT THE GVN HAD SEEN THE POSITIVE 
RESULTS OF UNICEF PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY THE SUCCESSFUL 
CAMPAIGN TO VACCINATE CHILDREN.  HE ALSO POINTED TO 
VIETNAM'S ACTIVE ROLE IN THE ORGANIZATION, NOTING THAT 
VIETNAM SERVED A TERM ON UNICEF'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FROM 
1996 TO 1999. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
LACK OF HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES LIMITS PARTICIPATION 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
26.  (U)  THE MFA/IO'S VINH NOTED THAT, AS VIETNAM HAS 
BROADENED ITS ACTIVITIES WITH INTERNATIONAL AND MULTILATERAL 
ORGANIZATIONS, A LACK OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL HAD LIMITED ITS 
EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION.  FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE MFA DOES 
NOT ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH OFFICIALS TO SEND TO INTERNATIONAL 
CONFERENCES, EVEN THOSE OF INTEREST TO THE GVN.  GVN EMBASSY 
OFFICIALS IN THOSE COUNTRIES SOMETIMES ATTEND AS OBSERVERS, 
BUT THE RELEVANT GVN FUNCTIONAL MINISTRY OFTEN DERIVES 
LITTLE BENEFIT, VINH ADDED.  THE IIR'S LAN NOTED SEPARATELY 
THAT THE STAFFS OF THE MFA AND OTHER MINISTRIES WOULD 
REQUIRE MORE TRAINING FULLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO OPERATE IN 
A MULTILATERAL FORUM.  RECOGNIZING THIS PROBLEM, LAN 
CLAIMED, VIETNAM HAD USED ITS PARTICIPATION IN APEC AS ONE 
WAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.  AT THE 9TH MEETING OF ECONOMIC 
LEADERS OF APEC, HELD IN SHANGHAI IN OCTOBER 2001, VIETNAM 
PUT FORTH AN INITIATIVE ON "TRAINING AND RETRAINING OF HUMAN 
RESOURCES TO ASSIST DEVELOPING MEMBERS TOWARD THE NEW 
ECONOMY." 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  00589  05 OF 06  141021Z 
27.  (U)  IN ADDITION, VINH ADMITTED THAT VIETNAM SIMPLY 
DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT OFFICIALS WHO HAVE THE ENGLISH 
LANGUAGE ABILITY NEEDED TO PLAY RESPONSIBLE ROLES IN 
INTERNATIONAL AND MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS;  THIS IS ALSO 
TRUE WITHIN ASEAN.  THIS PROBLEM IS LESS ACUTE NOW THAN A 
FEW YEARS AGO BUT IT STILL WILL TAKE "SOME TIME" UNTIL IT IS 
RESOLVED, CONCLUDED VINH.  COLONEL NHUNG PREDICTED THAT AS 
MORE VIETNAMESE STUDENTS STUDY ABROAD, THEY WILL BECOME A 
GOOD RESOURCE FOR BOTH GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS. 
 
28.  (U)  VIETNAM ALSO FACES A CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO FIND THE 
BUDGETARY RESOURCES TO SUPPORT ITS PARTICIPATION IN 
INTERNATIONAL AND  MULTILATERAL ORGANIZATIONS, ACCORDING TO 
VINH.  HE EXPLAINED THAT VIETNAM "IS A POOR COUNTRY" AND 
CANNOT AFFORD TO SET UP MISSIONS AND PARTICIPATE AS FULLY AS 
THE GVN WOULD LIKE.  FUNDS ARE VERY LIMITED EVEN FOR SENDING 
DELEGATIONS TO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES.  VINH CONCLUDED 
THAT THE LACK OF HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES WILL CONTINUE 
TO BE A PROBLEM FOR "QUITE SOME TIME." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
SINGAPORE HELPING TRAIN OFFICIALS UNDER ASEAN FRAMEWORK 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
29.  (U)  ASEAN HAS RECOGNIZED THE HUMAN RESOURCE ISSUE 
AMONG ITS LESS DEVELOPED MEMBERS.  AT THE FOURTH ASEAN 
INFORMAL SUMMIT HELD IN SINGAPORE IN NOVEMBER 2000, ASEAN 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2756 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  00589  06 OF 06  141022Z 
ACTION AF-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   AIT-03   ACQ-00   CEA-01   CIAE-00 
      COME-00  CTME-00  DOEE-00  ITCE-00  DOTE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00 
      EAP-00   EB-00    ED-01    EXME-00  EUR-00   OIGO-00  E-00 
      FAAE-00  FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    FRB-00   HHS-01   H-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    ITC-01   L-00     VCE-00   MOFM-05 
      MOF-01   AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01 
      PA-00    PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   ACE-00   P-00     SP-00 
      SSO-00   STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  R-00     EPAE-00 
      PMB-00   DSCC-00  DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   SWCI-00 
        /022W 
                  ------------------746420  141022Z /38 
R 140954Z MAR 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5794 
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 
USMISSION GENEVA 
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
USEU BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY BEIJING 
AMEMBASSY TOKYO 
AMEMBASSY SEOUL 
AIT TAIPEI 0674 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI//FPA// 
SECDEF WASHDC//ISA/ABLAGG// 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  00589  06 OF 06  141022Z 
UNCLAS SECTION 06 OF 06 HANOI 000589 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR IO, INR, EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/RSP, L/UNA 
 
LEADERS AGREED TO LAUNCH THE "INITIATIVE FOR ASEAN 
INTEGRATION" (IAI), WHICH PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL 
COOPERATION "AIMED AT NARROWING THE DIVIDE WITHIN ASEAN AND 
ENHANCING ASEAN'S COMPETITIVENESS AS A REGION."  SINGAPORE 
AGREED TO TAKE THE LEAD FOR THIS PROGRAM, AND IN NOVEMBER 
2001 LAUNCHED THE VIETNAM-SINGAPORE TRAINING CENTER IN 
DOWNTOWN HANOI.  (NOTE:  SINGAPORE WILL SUPPORT SIMILAR 
CENTERS IN CAMBODIA, LAOS, AND BURMA.  END NOTE.)  ACCORDING 
TO ANDREW TENG, SINGAPORE EMBASSY FIRST SECRETARY, THE 
CENTER WILL TRAIN VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS IN FIELDS INCLUDING 
TRADE, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC LAW, 
POLICY ANALYSIS AND FORMULATION, TOURISM, AND ENGLISH. 
ALTHOUGH THE TRAINING CENTER DID NOT OFFICIALLY OPEN UNTIL 
NOVEMBER, 73 VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS RECEIVED TRAINING IN TRADE 
POLICY AND WTO ACCESSION UNDER THE IAI FRAMEWORK IN JULY AND 
OCTOBER, TENG NOTED.  TENG SAID THAT SINGAPORE WILL COMMIT 
USD FIVE MILLION TO THE PROJECT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. 
MOST TRAINEES WILL BE FROM THE GVN OR STATE-OWNED 
ENTERPRISES. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  00589  06 OF 06  141022Z 
 
30.  (U)  VIETNAM HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO ASSUME A 
LARGER ROLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL AND MULTILATERAL 
ENVIRONMENT, A TREND THAT IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO DEEPEN 
DESPITE THESE HUMAN AND MATERIAL LIMITATIONS.  THIS 
PARTICIPATION WILL LIKELY ENHANCE VIETNAM'S UNDERSTANDING OF 
AND COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND VALUES, PROVIDE 
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXCHANGES OF VIEWS THAT MAY SOMETIMES 
BE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR MORE CONSERVATIVE ELEMENTS WITHIN THE 
GVN, AND ADD MOMENTUM TO THE EVOLUTION OF A MORE 
PROFESSIONAL -- RATHER THAN IDEOLOGICAL -- BODY OF GVN 
OFFICIALS AS WELL AS TO THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL 
SOCIETY WITHIN VIETNAM. 
BURGHARDT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED