US embassy cable - 05HANOI1794

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, KIRF, KPOW, ETRD, VM 
SUBJECT: Presidential Envoy Gordon Mansfield's Meeting with 
FM Nguyen Dzy Nien on the 10th Anniversary of Normalization 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dzy 
Nien and Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Gordon 
Mansfield met in Hanoi July 12 to exchange high level 
greetings and congratulations on the tenth anniversary of 
bilateral relations.  They reaffirmed the importance of 
building mutual understanding and continuing the positive 
momentum generated by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van 
Khai's recent visit to Washington and highlighted several 
areas of especially beneficial cooperation, including 
POW/MIA accounting, commercial ties, humanitarian assistance 
and student exchange.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
Presidential Envoy to Vietnam for the Celebration of the 
10th Anniversary of Normalization Gordon Mansfield met with 
Foreign Minister Nguyen Dzy Nien July 12.  The Ambassador, 
PAO and Poloff accompanied.  Deputy Secretary Mansfield told 
FM Nien he was pleased to be in Vietnam as President Bush's 
representative and happy to be able to heighten relations 
and bring "a message of cooperation and friendship from the 
American people to the Vietnamese people."  Nien said the 
anniversary is a great occasion and well-timed, coming 
immediately following the historic visit of Vietnam's Prime 
Minister to the United States.  He passed on a message from 
the Prime Minister to the President that the PM "highly 
appreciates the friendly development of the relationship for 
mutual benefit and cooperation, and expects it will reach 
new heights on the principle of peace, stability and 
development in the world."  Deputy Secretary Mansfield 
promised to convey that message to the President, and noted 
that the President and the Vietnamese PM clearly had a 
substantive and important meeting during the PM's visit to 
Washington June 21. 
 
3. (U) Deputy Secretary Mansfield said it is important to 
recognize that in the past 10 years the United States and 
Vietnam have taken steps to address issues of mutual 
concern, such as human rights and religious freedom.  Nien 
replied that Vietnam sees great progress in all fields, 
especially trade and economic ties.  The United States is 
Vietnam's top trade partner, he observed, and investment is 
growing with the boost from the PM's visit.  Tourism from 
the United States is another booming area, Nien said.  Areas 
of disagreement exist, he acknowledged, but he is convinced 
that through discussion it will be possible for both sides 
to come to agreement. 
 
4. (U) Nien said that as a senior official in the Veterans 
Affairs Department, Deputy Secretary Mansfield must 
understand the need for humanitarian assistance.  The 
assistance the United States already supplies to Vietnam is 
highly appreciated, Nien said, noting especially the 
President's decision to help Vietnam with HIV/AIDS relief. 
As a veteran, Mansfield must understand the consequences of 
war, Nien continued.  Nien said he hopes Mansfield will 
continue to examine and address the issue of helping 
Vietnamese veterans suffering from the consequences of war. 
(Note: "consequences of war" is the Vietnamese euphemism for 
a basket of outstanding requests for assistance with the 
cleanup of sites contaminated with unexploded ordinance and 
landmines, and for individuals whose disabilities the GVN 
believes are caused by Agent Orange.  End Note.)  Vietnam is 
also committed to humanitarian action, Nien said, noting 
that on the issue of fullest possible accounting for U.S. 
personnel missing in action Vietnam is providing the 
"fullest help."  Now that field activities have expanded to 
the Central Highlands, the two sides will see "successful 
operations in coming months," Nien said.  Deputy Secretary 
Mansfield thanked Nien for the cooperative efforts of the 
people and the Government of Vietnam in accounting for U.S. 
servicemen missing in action.  The bilateral effort predates 
normalization, Mansfield noted, and demonstrates the 
dedication of the Vietnamese and American peoples to working 
together.  The USG hopes to expand accounting efforts, as 
well as access to documents and information, he continued. 
 
5. (U) Commercial ties are also a strong component of the 
U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship, Mansfield said.  As 
President Bush told the Prime Minister, the United States is 
committed to working with Vietnam to facilitate Vietnam's 
entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).  Mansfield 
added that he had seen news articles earlier in the morning 
reporting a series of commercial and economic laws that 
passed in the National Assembly, which demonstrated that 
Vietnam is moving forward with its legislative framework for 
WTO entry. 
 
6. (U) U.S. Veterans are important advocates of the 
development of the bilateral relationship, Mansfield said, 
noting that Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and John McCain (R- 
AZ) had both stood with President Clinton when he announced 
the normalization of relations in 1995.  Nien said that 
Vietnam's people are "optimistic for the future of relations 
with the United States."  The younger generation is much 
more open and understanding of all outsiders, but especially 
Americans, he said.  Student exchanges enhance this positive 
development, and Vietnam wants to send even more Vietnamese 
students to the United States.  Vietnamese students coming 
to the United States, and Americans, especially veterans, 
visiting Vietnam, will increase understanding, Deputy 
Secretary Mansfield replied. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
7. (U) Nien added that Vietnam is happy that relations have 
expanded to cover security and military cooperation, and 
that Vietnam looks forward to participating in International 
Military Exchange and Training (IMET) activities and is 
already engaged in counterterrorism cooperation with the 
United States.  Deputy Secretary Mansfield expressed the 
USG's appreciation for that, saying "terrorists threaten all 
civilized countries."  Security cooperation, and cooperation 
in all areas at all levels, will cement the partnership. 
"When we have mutual understanding," he concluded, "we will 
find mutual paths for moving forward." 
 
8. (U) Later that same evening, Nien was the main GVN 
representative at the large Embassy representational event 
formally commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 
normalization of relations.  He repeated publicly many of 
his private comments, saying in his speech that "the visit 
has brought the two countries' ties to a new level through 
the development of a constructive partnership, friendship 
and multifaceted cooperation on the principle of equality, 
mutual respect and mutual benefit."  The event, and Nien's 
comments, received wide press attention.  GVN representation 
at the event was above average, with several guests at the 
vice-minister level or higher. 
 
9. (U) Deputy Secretary Mansfield cleared this message. 
 
MARINE