US embassy cable - 05HANOI2154

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 002154 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV; EAP/RSP; DRL 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR E. BRYAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PGOV, KIRF, PINR, ETRD, VM, WTO, RELFREE, SOE 
SUBJECT: The Ambassador's August 18 Meeting with Politburo 
Member Phan Dzien 
 
Ref:  A) Hanoi 1888; B) Hanoi 2063 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) During an August 18 meeting with senior Politburo 
member Phan Dzien, the Ambassador underlined continued USG 
support for Vietnam's WTO accession and stressed that, while 
bilateral progress is important, Vietnam will also need to 
deal with multilateral issues in Geneva and matters raised 
by the U.S. Congress in the course of the PNTR vote.  Dzien, 
while urging the United States to rapidly conclude its talks 
with Vietnam, acknowledged that Vietnam's legislative 
efforts are running late.  On the issue of religious 
freedom, Dzien repeated Vietnam's policy of allowing 
religious freedom but acknowledged that local officials do 
not always follow this policy.  On the subject of next 
year's tenth Party Congress, Dzien said that the Party is 
examining ways to strengthen Vietnam's market economy, speed 
up equitization and increase rule of law.  While the Party 
will maintain its leadership role in Vietnam, it is 
nonetheless examining ways to develop democracy and enhance 
the role of elective bodies and mass organizations.  End 
Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) The Ambassador met for an hour August 18 with 
Politburo member Phan Dzien.  (Note:  Dzien is ranked sixth 
in the Politburo and is the standing member of the Communist 
Party (CPV) Central Committee's nine-member Secretariat, 
ranking just after General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.  He is 
primarily responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the 
Party.  End note.)  The Ambassador opened by thanking Dzien 
for his leading role in promoting U.S.-Vietnam relations. 
The Prime Minister's visit to the United States was the 
highlight of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of 
bilateral relations, and many factors were a part of its 
success.  The PM's reception in the United States reinforced 
his and others' views about what can be done to expand the 
bilateral relationship.  With Vietnam's hosting APEC in 2006 
and President Bush scheduled to attend, the current momentum 
of the relationship will be kept up into next year, the 
Ambassador said. 
 
WTO Accession 
------------- 
 
3. (SBU) To allow the bilateral relationship to grow as the 
United States would like, it is important for Vietnam to be 
strong and prosperous, the Ambassador continued.  The next 
logical step in ensuring this is Vietnam's WTO accession, 
which the United States continues to support.  During the 
President's meeting with Prime Minister Khai, he made clear 
that a political decision had been made to support Vietnam's 
WTO aspirations.  What remain are technical matters.  As the 
Ambassador recently noted to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, 
much is being done behind the scenes to prepare for the next 
round of bilateral WTO negotiations (Ref A).  We recognize 
that some in Vietnam are concerned that we have thus far 
been unable to conclude our talks.  The fact of the matter 
is the bilateral negotiations are probably the easiest of 
the three elements necessary to Vietnam's accession. 
 
4. (SBU) In addition to the bilateral negotiations, there 
are multilateral discussions in Geneva through the Working 
Party, the Ambassador explained.  The key here is Vietnam's 
creation of the proper legal framework for WTO entry, which 
we recognize the National Assembly and the GVN have been 
working on for the past year.  However, the issue of timing 
remains because the National Assembly has to pass laws that 
the Working Group will not see until later this year. 
 
5. (SBU) The third element is Congress's Permanent Normal 
Trade Relations (PNTR) vote for Vietnam.  This will involve 
a close review of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and 
the attitude of U.S. business towards Vietnam, which we have 
found to be strongly supportive.  The PNTR vote will also be 
an opportunity for Members of Congress with interests in 
Vietnam and in certain aspects of the bilateral relationship 
to ask for clarifications and express their opinions.  These 
matters may not have anything to do with trade.  However, we 
have to be prepared to deal with these issues, which will 
likely be related to areas in which our two countries have 
differences, such as human rights, religious freedom and the 
treatment of ethnic minorities, the Ambassador said. 
Religious Freedom:  Party Can Play a Role 
----------------------------------------- 
6. (SBU) The USG recognizes fully the progress that Vietnam 
has made in recent years in dealing with these matters.  The 
Party and GVN deserve credit for improving Vietnam's 
standard of living, expanding the space available for 
religious believers and creating social and economic 
opportunities for ethnic minorities.  However, problems 
remain, and it is important that we manage problem areas 
through continued dialogue and exchanges of information. 
One example of an area of difficulty is that some local 
officials either do not understand or choose to ignore the 
GVN's clearly articulated new policy on religious freedom. 
Given the breadth of its organization across Vietnam, the 
Party can play a leading role in ensuring that officials 
obey the letter and spirit of Vietnam's laws and 
Constitution, the Ambassador suggested. 
 
Ho Chi Minh Desired Expanded Relations 
-------------------------------------- 
 
7. (SBU) Vietnam attaches great importance to its 
relationship with the United States and hopes that bilateral 
relations proceed accordingly, Dzien said.  During a recent 
visit to Ho Chi Minh's redoubt in Tuyen Quang Province in 
the months before his return to Hanoi in 1945, Dzien was 
able to tour a small airfield that U.S. planes used to 
provide support to Ho and his comrades.  A U.S. plane is 
still on display, a symbol of Ho Chi Minh's desire to expand 
relations with the United States, Dzien explained. 
 
Vietnam Running Late 
-------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) On the ongoing bilateral WTO negotiations, Dzien 
expressed his hope that the talks would soon conclude, 
providing impetus to the conclusion of Vietnam's talks with 
other nations.  As for the National Assembly's legislative 
work, "to be frank, we are worried," Dzien said.  Vietnam 
realizes that it is running late, but will spare no effort 
to complete the tasks at hand by the end of the year.  On 
the PNTR vote in the U.S. Congress, Vietnam understands it 
has to create favorable conditions for the vote. 
 
Local Officials Do Not Always Follow Policy 
------------------------------------------- 
 
9. (SBU) It is true that local officials do not always 
follow Government policy, Dzien continued.  Religion has 
played a complex role in Vietnam's wars.  In each religion, 
there have been supporters of the revolution and supporters 
of the former southern regime, and this latter opposition 
has sometimes led to bloody conflict.  It is by no means 
easy to eliminate this discord.  That said, it is Vietnam's 
policy to make every effort to ensure freedom of religion 
and unite all religions to serve the cause of national 
construction.  Furthermore, religious activities must be 
within the framework of Vietnam's laws.  In the event that 
there are specific cases of interest, Vietnam will take note 
of others' concerns, Dzien said. 
 
Tackling Tough Issues 
--------------------- 
 
10. (SBU) It seems clear that Ho Chi Minh saw the 
possibility for bilateral relations before others saw it, 
but our missed opportunities in the past make it all the 
more important not to miss opportunities now, the Ambassador 
observed.  Forty years ago it would have been difficult to 
predict where we are today and that the relationship would 
develop as it has.  Our shared history makes our relations 
stronger and creates more possibilities.  Although we still 
have tough issues to tackle, we are making progress.  For 
example, a DOD team just held a workshop on decontaminating 
dioxin sites, which proved to be an opportunity for positive 
exchanges between military experts from both countries. 
Additionally, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is using 
money from the U.S. Congress to clear unexploded ordnance 
and help those whose lives have been badly affected by UXO. 
Relations between Viet Kieu and Vietnam are also sensitive, 
and the Ambassador expressed his desire to help create 
better communication and understanding between the two.  The 
GVN has an active policy to increase dialogue, but more can 
be done to help reconcile Viet Kieu to the Vietnam of today, 
the Ambassador noted. 
 
11. (SBU) On the WTO, the USG applauds Vietnam's steadfast 
efforts to do all that is possible to enter the WTO, 
preferably by the end of 2005.  However, fixating on Hong 
Kong in December may cause the process to be too rushed. 
What is most important is for Vietnam to join the WTO fully 
prepared and with the right set of laws and bilateral 
agreements, the Ambassador said. 
 
Tenth Party Congress 
-------------------- 
 
12. (SBU) The Ambassador turned to the subject of next 
year's tenth Party Congress, the foci of which reportedly 
will be an evaluation of twenty years of Vietnam's "doi moi" 
(renovation) policy and a look ahead to 2020 and Vietnam's 
goal of being a modern nation.  There has also been some 
talk that the Party Congress will address the issue of 
political doi moi (Ref B).  Responding, Dzien said that the 
CPV is actively preparing for the Congress.  In terms of 
economic reform, doi moi will be implemented in a more broad- 
based manner to fully put in place a market economy with 
socialist orientation.  Although Vietnam has made efforts to 
introduce a market economy, it is not yet a full-fledged 
market economy with the proper laws and institutions in 
place.  This is something the Party Congress will address, 
Dzien explained. 
 
13. (SBU) In the State sector, Vietnam must speed up 
equitization, abolish monopolies and remove the mechanism of 
line ministries having oversight over enterprises, Dzien 
continued.  Vietnam needs a policy of developing a multi- 
sector economy while encouraging the development of the 
private sector.  In the future, Vietnam will increase 
assistance to the private sector to maximize its capacity to 
meet demand.  Vietnam must also work to speed up its 
international integration, Dzien added. 
 
14. (SBU) The meaning of "socialist orientation" is that 
Vietnam's economic development must be linked to its 
cultural and social development.  For example, Vietnam must 
try to ensure social equality for everyone, with a special 
emphasis placed on poverty reduction, particularly in areas 
heavily populated by ethnic minorities, Dzien emphasized. 
 
15. (SBU) Political reform is another issue that is being 
debated.  The leading role of the Communist Party will 
continue, but the Party will try to find a way to better 
ensure democracy, including religious freedom.  Vietnam must 
ensure national unity among people of all social strata, 
religions and ethnic backgrounds.  Vietnam will also strive 
to give Viet Kieu opportunities to learn about the Vietnam 
of today and create opportunities for them to contribute to 
Vietnam's development.  There must also be efforts to 
strengthen rule of law, and, on that basis, the Party must 
consider reforming its "leadership methods."  There is also 
a discussion about enhancing the role of elective bodies and 
mass organizations to make them more effective, Dzien 
explained. 
 
16. (SBU) Finding a balance between the goal of maintaining 
the CPV as the leading political force and strengthening 
democracy is an admirable, but difficult, goal, the 
Ambassador said.  Clearly, increasing rule of law versus 
rule of man is vital for Vietnam's economic and overall 
success.  Our two systems are different, particularly in 
terms of politics and governing.  However, in the spirit of 
mutual respect, the USG may have ideas we can share as 
Vietnam moves forward with its plans, the Ambassador 
offered.  Dzien concluded by asking for the USG's help in 
ensuring the success of APEC 2006 and the visit by the 
President. 
 
17. (SBU) As he walked the Ambassador out, Dzien returned to 
Ho Chi Minh's interest in democracy.  Just days before 
proclaiming Vietnam's independence in September 1945, Ho 
asked his U.S. military "advisors" to obtain a copy of the 
U.S. Declaration of Independence from the headquarters in 
Kunming, China.  The request went unanswered.  Doing 
research is a lot easier in the internet age, the Ambassador 
joked. 
 
18. (SBU) Comment:  A youthful-looking 67-year old, Dzien 
was relaxed and well briefed, particularly on the details of 
Vietnam's WTO efforts.  Although not a regular USG 
interlocutor -- the last senior USG official to see him was 
Ambassador Burghardt, for his farewell call -- Dzien has 
reportedly played a behind-the-scenes role in helping to 
strengthen bilateral ties.  Significantly, Dzien was on tap 
to travel to the United States to advance the Prime 
Minister's visit (originally proposed for last year), the 
delay of which ultimately prevented Dzien from going.  End 
Comment. 
 
MARINE