US embassy cable - 05HANOI1303

UNCLAS HANOI 001303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV and DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, PGOV, VM, HUMANR 
SUBJECT: GVN CONSIDERS RESUMPTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE 
 
Ref:  A) State 98765, B) May 28 Jackson-Zaring email 
 
1. (SBU) DCM delivered Ref A demarche to MFA International 
Organizations Department Director General Pham Binh Minh on 
June 3.  The DCM noted that the Department would like to 
restart the dialogue as early as mid-July in Washington, 
with the Vietnamese delegation headed by a representative at 
the Vice Minister level and containing participants from a 
number of other ministries (Ref. B).  The dialogue was 
suspended due to the Department's view that there was not 
enough progress in specific areas, and we would hope that 
this round would deal with concrete issues. 
 
2. (SBU) DG Minh said that "it would be good to begin 
again," and that he would pass the USG proposal to MFA 
leadership.  Minh brought up some areas where he would like 
to see "further clarification" from the Department about 
restarting the dialogue.  As the last round was held in 
Washington, "my people" will question why we should hold it 
there again now.  Charge noted that DAS Dugan had held 
meetings on human rights issues in Hanoi last November, 
though Minh replied that had not been a real dialogue 
session.  Minh recalled that the GVN had proposed resumption 
of the dialogue two years ago and suggested at that time it 
could be held at the Vice Minister level.  However the GVN 
would want to be sure that State Department counterparts 
will also be at a suitable level.  If the USG delegation 
were headed by a DRL P/DAS, perhaps an MFA Director General 
- such as Minh himself - would be a more appropriate 
counterpart. 
 
3. (SBU) On the question of timing, Minh said that the MFA 
International Organizations Department was extremely busy in 
July and August preparing for UNGA and researching questions 
of U.N. reform.  He understood that it can be difficult to 
find appropriate counterparts in Washington in August, and 
he expressed his view that November or December may be more 
workable dates.  The dialogue would be conducted on an 
"equal footing," with each side proposing items for the 
agenda. 
 
4. (U) The DCM agreed to seek further clarification on these 
issues from Washington and reply to the IO Department as 
soon as possible. 
 
MARINE