US embassy cable - 05HANOI1580

UNCLAS  HANOI 001580 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; PM/PPA; PM/RSAT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL,  MARR,  EAID,  VM 
SUBJECT:  United States and Vietnam Conclude IMET Agreement 
 
Ref: State 101617 
 
This message was coordinated with the Office of the Defense 
Attache 
 
1. (SBU) On June 17, the Charge, accompanied by DATT and 
POL/C, met Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang to exchange 
diplomatic notes to conclude an International Military 
Education and Training (IMET) agreement between the United 
States and Vietnam.  Texts of U.S. (reftel) and Vietnamese 
notes follow in paragraphs 4 and 5. 
 
2. (SBU) Congratulating the Charge, VFM Bang noted the 
positive work and efforts by both sides to reach this 
agreement and stated that IMET is yet another step in the 
development of military relations between the two countries. 
The Charge echoed the Vice Foreign Minister's remarks on the 
value of IMET and added that the timing of the agreement on 
the eve of the Prime Minister's visit is an encouraging 
development.  He noted that that this agreement opens the 
door to more exchanges and opportunities that will be 
valuable to both sides. 
 
3. (SBU) In an aside, our MFA interlocutors asked us not to 
make the agreement public until the Prime Minister meets the 
Secretary of Defense on June 21. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
4. (SBU) Begin text of U.S. note: 
 
No. 0617/05 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America presents its 
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam and has the has the honor to 
refer to earlier discussions between representatives of the 
two Governments regarding grants, that may occur after the 
proposed agreement enters into force, and the furnishing of 
defense articles, related training to include training 
related to defense articles, including training pursuant to 
the United States International Military and Education 
Training program (IMET), and other defense services under 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, or successor 
legislation, from the United States of America to the 
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 
 
In accordance with these discussions, it is proposed that 
the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam agree: 
 
a. that unless the consent of the Government of the United 
States of America has been first obtained the Government of 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall not: 
 
(i) permit any use of such defense articles, related 
training including training materials, or other defense 
services by anyone not an officer, employee or agent of the 
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; 
 
(ii) transfer or permit any officer, employee or agent of 
the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to 
transfer such articles, related training including training 
materials, or other defense services by gift, sale or 
otherwise; or 
 
(iii) use or permit the use of such articles, related 
training including training materials, or other defense 
services for purposes other than those for which provided; 
 
b. that such defense articles, or related training including 
training materials, or defense services shall be returned to 
the Government of the United States of America when they are 
no longer needed for the purposes for which they were 
furnished, unless the Government of the United States of 
America consents to another disposition; 
 
c. that the net proceeds of sale received by the Government 
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in disposing of, with 
prior written consent of the Government of the United States 
of America, any defense article furnished by the Government 
of the United States of America on a grant basis, including 
scrap from any such defense article, shall be paid to the 
Government of the United States of America; 
 
d. that the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
shall maintain the security of such defense articles, 
related training including training materials, and other 
defense services; that it shall provide substantially the 
same degree of security protection afforded to such defense 
articles, related training including training materials, or 
 
 
other defense services by the Government of the United 
States of America; that it shall, as the United States of 
America may require, permit continuous observation and 
review by, and furnish necessary information to, 
representatives of the Government of the United States of 
America with regard to the use thereof by the Government of 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and 
 
e. that the Government of the United States of America may 
also from time to time make the provision of articles, 
services, and related training furnished under other 
authority (except the United States Arms Export Control Act) 
subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement 
proposed herein. Acceptance by the Government of the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam of such articles, services, or 
related training shall constitute agreement that such terms 
and conditions apply. (Transfers under the United States 
Arms Export Control Act shall continue to be governed by the 
requirements of that act and United States regulations 
applicable to such transfers.) 
 
If the proposal set forth herein is acceptable to the 
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, this Note 
and the Ministry's affirmative note in reply shall 
constitute an agreement between the two Governments, which 
shall enter into force on the date of the Ministry's note. 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of 
this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the assurances of its 
highest consideration. 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America 
Hanoi, June 17, 2005. 
 
End text of U.S. note. 
 
5. (SBU) Begin text of Vietnamese note: 
 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
The Socialist Republic Of Vietnam 
 
No: 260/NG-CM 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam presents its compliments to the Embassy of the 
United States of America and has the honor to inform the 
Government of the United States of America of the position 
of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
regarding the Diplomatic Note 00617/05 dated June 17, 2005 
concerning the International Military Education and Training 
(IMET) Program of the United States of America: 
 
Vietnam will participate in the IMET Program at the 
invitation of the Government of the United States of America 
and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will 
inform the Embassy of the United States of America of the 
specific programs in which Vietnam intends to participate. 
 
The proposal set forth in Note 00617/05 is acceptable to the 
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 
 
This Note and Note 00617/05 of the Government of the United 
States of America shall constitute an agreement between the 
two Governments, which shall enter into force on the date of 
the Diplomatic Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam renews to the Embassy of the Unites States of 
America the assurances of its highest considerations. 
 
Hanoi, June 17, 2005 
 
End text of Vietnamese note. 
 
BOARDMAN 
 
 
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