US embassy cable - 02HANOI1502

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UNHCR/VIETNAM RELATIONS: "NEVER SO BAD"

Identifier: 02HANOI1502
Wikileaks: View 02HANOI1502 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Hanoi
Created: 2002-06-10 10:50:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Tags: PREF PREL VM CB HUMANR
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

101050Z Jun 02

2002HANOI01502 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ6376

PAGE 01        HANOI  01502  101049Z 
ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    ACQ-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  DS-00    
      FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   
      VCE-00   NSAE-00  OIC-02   TEST-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   
      NFAT-00  SAS-00     /005W
                  ------------------BA9A41  101049Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6714
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 
USMISSION GENEVA 
UNCLAS HANOI 001502 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREF, PREL, VM, CB, HUMANR 
SUBJECT:  UNHCR/VIETNAM RELATIONS:  "NEVER SO BAD" 
 
 
1.  (SBU)  UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE JAHANSHAH ASSADI 
BRIEFED CHARGE AND POL/C JUNE 10 ABOUT HIS MEETING EARLIER 
THAT DAY WITH THE MFA'S NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CONSULAR 
DEPARTMENT, BUI DINH DINH.  ACCORDING TO ASSADI, DINH SPENT 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  01502  101049Z 
ALMOST A HALF AN HOUR READING TALKING POINTS, EXPRESSING 
"DISAPPOINTMENT" THAT THE UNHCR HAD "ABANDONED" THE 
TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT UNDER "UNDUE INFLUENCE AND PRESSURE" 
FROM THE US.  DINH TOLD ASSADI THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN 
VIETNAM AND UNHCR HAD "NEVER BEEN AS BAD AS NOW."  HOWEVER, 
DINH SUBSEQUENTLY SAID THAT THE MFA NOW WANTED TO "REBUILD 
RELATIONS" WITH UNHCR. 
 
2.  (SBU)  ASSADI NOTED TO CHARGE THAT HE HAD URGED THE MFA 
TO LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE AND NOT DWELL ON THE PAST, WHILE 
REMINDING DG DINH OF SOME OF THE UNHELPFUL GVN ACTIONS THAT 
HAD PRECIPITATED THE COLLAPSE OF THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT 
PROCESS.  UNHCR IS NOW EAGER TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON MICRO- 
PROJECTS TO ASSIST THE 200+ MONTAGNARD RETURNEES (ALMOST ALL 
OF WHOM WERE "SPONTANEOUS") AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. 
ASSADI SAID THAT DG DINH HAD AGREED; THESE TALKS MAY BEGIN 
DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 17.  UNHCR HOPES TO BUILD ON ITS 
SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE WITH MICRO-PROJECTS UNDER THE EARLIER 
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION, DURING WHICH UNHCR SPENT USD 
14.7 MILLION ON ABOUT 700 PROJECTS.  ASSADI SAID THAT HE 
BELIEVES UNHCR WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR 
THIS NEW PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD NECESSARILY ENTAIL ADEQUATE 
ACCESS TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS BY UNHCR STAFF.  HE SAID 
THAT HE HAD NOT YET REQUESTED A TRIP TO THE HIGHLANDS FOR 
HIMSELF, BELIEVING THAT THE TIME WAS NOT YET PROPITIOUS. 
 
3.  (SBU)  ASSADI EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUED 
CLOSURE OF THE BORDER BY THE RCG, NOTING THAT UNHCR HAD 
CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AT LEAST 250 PEOPLE HAVING BEEN TURNED 
BACK IN RECENT MONTHS.  HE WAS UNSURE WHETHER CAMBODIAN 
OFFICIALS HAD ACTED ALONE OR WITH VIETNAMESE COOPERATION. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  01502  101049Z 
UNHCR STAFF REMAINS IN RATTANAKIRI AND MAKES REGULAR TRIPS 
TO MONDOLKIRI AS WELL, HE ADDED.  HE URGED THAT THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONSIDER SOON HOW BEST TO CONVINCE 
THE RCG AGAIN TO RESPECT THE RIGHT OF FIRST ASYLUM.  HE 
REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR THIS PRINCIPLE. 
PORTER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 


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