US embassy cable - 05HANOI1971

UNCLAS HANOI 001971 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, VM, WTO, HUMANR 
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL ISSUES AT AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH MFA 
ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
REF: A) Hanoi 1941 (NOTAL) 
 
1. (SBU) The Ambassador met Assistant Foreign Minister 
Nguyen Duc Hung July 28 for a one-on-one discussion at 
Hung's request.  Most of the conversation was taken up by 
discussion of issues related to Vietnam's WTO entry 
(reftel), but several other issues also came up. 
 
2. (SBU) The Ambassador noted the intention to send a joint 
Embassy-ConGen Ho Chi Minh City team to the Central 
Highlands to meet with ethnic minority migrants who were 
returned to Vietnam from Cambodia July 20.  Ambassador Hung 
said the MFA will support and assist with that effort.  The 
Ambassador raised the ongoing issue of Dak Lak Province's 
foot-dragging on issuance of necessary travel documents to 
the follow-to-join family members of Vietnamese refugees in 
the United States, and noted that Dak Lak's recalcitrance on 
this issue could have ramifications for the USG's ability to 
secure a waiver of Jackson-Vanik amendment provisions for 
Vietnam.  AFM Hung had no new information or official 
response. 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of the Human Rights 
Dialogue.  He said the USG looks forward to holding the 
Dialogue at an appropriate time in the Fall of 2005.  AFM 
Hung noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looked 
forward to making the Dialogue as constructive as possible. 
Also on the subject of Human Rights, the Ambassador 
highlighted USG concerns regarding the health problems of 
prisoner of concern Pham Hong Son and recommended that the 
GVN release Son as part of the September National Day 
amnesty for humanitarian reasons.  AFM Hung said that he 
would look into the matter. 
 
4. (SBU) The Ambassador advised AFM Hung of his intent to 
meet with released political dissident Dr. Nguyen Dan Que in 
Ho Chi Minh City, noting that Que is considering travel to 
the United States.  AFM Hung replied that Que is a 
"sensitive and high-profile case" and stated that he 
believed that Que is subject to "administrative 
restrictions" for a period of time, perhaps three years.  It 
is not clear, AFM Hung said, if Que will be permitted to 
travel under the terms of his release.  At the end of the 
meeting, Hung urged the Ambassador not to meet with Que, 
suggesting that a staff member do so.  The Ambassador was 
noncommittal.  (Note:  the meeting is scheduled for 
Wednesday, August 3.  End Note.) 
 
MARINE