US embassy cable - 05HANOI314

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000314 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT PASS TO EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; DRL 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR ELENA BRYAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KIRF, PGOV, OVIP, ETRD, CASC, MASS, VM, WTO, RELFREE, APEC 
SUBJECT: NSC Senior Director Michael Green's Meeting with 
Minister/Chairman of the Government Office Doan Manh Giao 
 
REF: STATE 21232 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: NSC Senior Director for Asia Dr. Michael 
J. Green and the Ambassador discussed bilateral relations 
and regional strategic dynamics with Minister/Chairman of 
the Government Office Doan Manh Giao on February 4.  Giao 
urged the removal of Vietnam's designation as a Country of 
Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom before the 
Prime Minister's planned June 2005 visit and called for the 
conclusion of bilateral WTO negotiations by then.  Giao also 
pledged the GVN's commitment to the new religious ordinance, 
in letter and spirit, and acknowledged the need for 
increasing the pace of legal amendments for WTO accession. 
End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) Following their meeting with Deputy Prime Minister 
Vu Khoan (septel), NSC Senior Director Mike Green and the 
Ambassador met with Minister/Chairman of the Government 
Office Doan Manh Giao on February 4 to continue discussions 
about bilateral relations and regional cooperation.  Raising 
the issue of China's growing role in the region, Dr. Green 
emphasized the mutually reinforcing aspect of bilateral 
relations among Asian countries and the relations of those 
countries with the United States.  The evolving architecture 
of regional forums including APEC, an East Asian Summit and 
Six Party Talks to address concerns about the DPRK's nuclear 
proliferation, should all be mutually reinforcing as well, 
Dr. Green said.  Vietnam is in a good position to positively 
influence this architecture as it prepares to host the APEC 
Summit in 2006, he noted. 
 
3. (SBU) Dr. Green raised the possibility of an exchange of 
notes on a religious freedom work plan for Vietnam (reftel) 
that would have as its target the lifting of Vietnam's CPC 
designation.  He explained that although this would be a 
step-by-step process, Vietnam has already shown it has taken 
initial steps, and the USG remains confident that we could 
have positive dialogue on religious freedom along with a 
comprehensive list of other bilateral issues. 
 
3. (SBU) Giao agreed that a work plan on CPC would address 
short-term goals of preparing for the Prime Minister's visit 
and long-term goals of improving bilateral relations.  Doi 
Moi (economic renovation) reforms have contributed to many 
reforms in the political system of Vietnam, Giao explained, 
including a more active National Assembly and the 
accountability of the Prime Minister to the National 
Assembly.  The GVN has also implemented reforms in legal 
procedures, transparency of the court system and public 
administration.  Official gazettes explaining policy changes 
have also increased from just 12 per year to 361 in 2004 
with ten million copies distributed. 
 
4.  (SBU) Giao urged removal of the CPC designation this 
year, citing the new religious ordinance that clearly 
prohibits forced renunciations of faith.  Giao said he 
carried this message from the Prime Minister (PM): Vietnam 
wants to build a stable, lasting relationship with the 
United States.  The PM has already asked him to begin 
mobilizing relevant ministries in preparation for his trip 
to the United States this summer and explore the possibility 
of signing MOUs on economic and technical cooperation, 
agriculture, maritime transport, military training and 
adoptions.  These MOUs, combined with work plans, would then 
establish a legal foundation to move forward.  WTO is 
another key issue, and Vietnam hopes to end negotiations 
before the PM's visit, Giao stressed. 
 
5.  (SBU) Regarding religious freedom, Dr. Green responded 
that demonstrating the GVN's commitment to both the letter 
and spirit of the new ordinance is imperative to convince 
the people of both countries that progress is being made in 
the next few months.  September would be the earliest 
juncture when CPC would be reviewed, but even if Vietnam 
remains on the list, the two countries should demonstrate 
the intent to move in the right direction. 
 
6.  (SBU) Green cautioned that completing WTO negotiations 
before the PM's visit would be difficult in light of the 
legal changes Vietnam must still enact to be in compliance 
with international standards; however, a joint statement or 
high level meetings could demonstrate our intention to move 
forward.  The Ambassador added that Vietnam's accession to 
the WTO by the end of 2005 is doable but difficult, and the 
key factor is the National Assembly's ability to modify 
appropriate laws and provide evidence of these changes to 
WTO members.  One possible solution would be to construct an 
"umbrella law" that would avoid requiring a complete review 
of every law in each sector, the Ambassador suggested.  This 
is a decision for the GVN to make, and we can work together 
on either course Vietnam decides to take, he said. 
 
7.  (U) Giao concluded that the GVN is committed to 
enforcing the ordinance on religion with the "utmost spirit" 
and that it takes into account the views of its friends, 
including the United States, on this and other issues.  He 
also agreed that Vietnam must meet international legal 
standards to join WTO, but noted the pace of amending laws 
would be a challenge.  Thirty laws were amended this year 
and 42 are expected to be amended in 2005, he noted. 
 
8. (U) Bio note: Giao was born in 1944 in Hue.  He graduated 
from Vietnam Military Academy as an engineer.  After that, 
he spent some time working as a teacher at the Academy.  He 
studied in China, and speaks Chinese well.  In 1983 or 1984, 
he transferred to the Government Office in the capacity of 
China Expert.  From 1992 - 2001, he was Vice Chairman of the 
Government Office, then was promoted Minister/Chairman in 
2001.  He speaks little English and does not use it in 
official meetings.  He was impressive in this meeting, both 
in his candor and his apparent willingness to engage in an 
exchange designed to find creative solutions. 
 
9. (SBU) Dr. Green cleared this cable. 
 
MARINE