US embassy cable - 05HANOI1121

UNCLAS HANOI 001121 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
FOR DOE/NA-212 KASIA MENDELSOHN AND NP/NE ALLAN KRASS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KNNP, ENRG, TRGY, VM 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S RESPONSE TO DOE LETTER ON DALAT NUCLEAR 
REACTOR CONVERSION 
 
REFTEL: State 020957 
 
1. The Deputy Chief of Mission received a letter (in 
Vietnamese) dated May 4, 2005 from Vice Minister of Science 
and Technology (MOST) Dr. Tran Quoc Thang responding to 
DOE's February 14, 2005 letter regarding the Dalat Nuclear 
Research Reactor.  According to the letter, MOST appreciates 
DOE's collaborative efforts to date, but they would like 
additional meetings and information, as well as visits to 
Argonne National Laboratory.  Text of the letter follows. 
 
2. Begin Text. 
 
Hanoi, May 4, 2005 
 
Mr. John Boardman 
Deputy Chief of Mission 
U.S. Embassy in Vietnam 
 
Dear Mr. Deputy Chief of Mission, 
 
The Ministry of Science and Technology would like to 
respectfully extend to you its thanks for your cooperation 
for the relations between our two countries in general, and 
in the field of science and technology in particular. 
 
With reference to the proposal of the U.S. Department of 
Energy (DOE) presented in its letter dated February 14, 2005 
on its support to Vietnam within the Trilateral Cooperation 
Program of the United States, the IAEA and Russia on the 
conversion of nuclear fuel rods, the Ministry of Science and 
Technology respectfully thanks the sense of cooperation of 
that proposal and would like to comment as follows: 
 
1.   The Ministry of Science and Technology always confirms 
  its attention to and efforts in taking measures to ensure 
  and strengthen nuclear security. 
 
2.   Over the past period, with the cooperation of the 
Embassy and you personally, U.S. experts and experts of the 
Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute have exchanged initial 
contacts and information.  For example: the working visits 
of Dr. Dedik (in February 2004) and Dr. Catherine Rebecca 
Mendelsohn (in December 2004).  We highly appreciate those 
initial contacts and exchanges between experts of the two 
countries with a view to exchange experience and strengthen 
cooperation and mutual assistance on issues of mutual 
concern. 
3.   In the coming period, with the support of you, Mr. 
Deputy Chief of Mission, the two sides will continue to 
facilitate our experts in exchanging more contacts and 
detailed information on the technical issues raised by the 
above-mentioned working visits.  We also would like the U.S. 
side to facilitate a number of Vietnamese experts to visit 
and work with their American colleagues at the Argonne 
National Laboratory (ANL) to have in-depth discussions on 
technical contents. 
Once again, the Ministry of Science and Technology 
respectfully thanks Mr. Deputy Chief of Mission and would 
like to request you to give its best regards to Dr. Kasia 
Mendelsohn, Acting Director of Office of Global Nuclear 
Materials Threat Reduction. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
(Signed) 
Prof. Dr. Tr?n Qu?c Th?ng 
Vice Minister of Science and Technology 
 
End text. 
 
3. Should you have additional questions, Embassy Hanoi's 
point of contact is Economic Officer Jay Avecilla who can be 
reached by email at avecillajt@state.gov. 
 
MARINE 
 
 
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