US embassy cable - 03HANOI433

Disclaimer: This site has been first put up 15 years ago. Since then I would probably do a couple things differently, but because I've noticed this site had been linked from news outlets, PhD theses and peer rewieved papers and because I really hate the concept of "digital dark age" I've decided to put it back up. There's no chance it can produce any harm now.

Identifier:	03HANOI433
Wikileaks:	View 03HANOI433 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Hanoi
Created:	2003-02-24 05:43:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	PREL KN VM ASEAN DPRK
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS HANOI 000433 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/RSP AND EAP/BCLTV 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KN, VM, ASEAN, DPRK 
SUBJECT:  VIETNAM ON ARF ACTION ON NORTH KOREA 
 
1.  (U)  In a diplomatic note dated February 21, the MFA's 
ASEAN Department requested all ARF member Embassies in Hanoi 
transmit to their Foreign Ministers a copy of a February 21 
letter from Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien to Cambodian 
Foreign Minister Hor Hamhong expressing qualified support 
for the establishment of a "friends of ARF Chair" to discuss 
the situation on the Korean peninsula.  FM Nien specifically 
acknowledged the importance of US and Korean concurrence. 
Full text in para 2. 
 
2.  (U)  Begin text 
Ha Noi, 21 February, 2003 
 
H.E. Mr. Hor Hamhong 
Senior Minister, 
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation 
Phnom Penh 
 
Dear Mr. Chairman, 
 
With reference to your letter dated 11th February 2003 
concerning the situation on the Korean peninsula, I fully 
share your view and would like to reaffirm Viet Nam's strong 
support for Cambodia's active role as the current ARF Chair. 
 
Concerning your intention to invite some Foreign Ministers 
from ARF countries to serve as "friends of ARF Chair," I am 
of the view that if you sense the consensus from other 
responses, particularly from countries directly concerned 
like China, the USA, Russia, Japan and two Koreas, then I 
would support the establishment of such a group.  With 
regards to your suggestion that two ASEAN Foreign Ministers 
and another two from non-ASEAN countries be invited, I would 
follow Mr. Chairman's and other ASEAN Colleagues' guidance 
on who should be invited.  From ASEAN countries, may I 
propose that Brunei Darussalam -- the Former Chair, and 
Indonesia - the Incoming Chair, be the first choices. 
 
Please accept, Mr. Chairman, the renewed assurances of my 
highest consideration and best wishes. 
 
Sincerely yours, 
 
//s// Nguyen Dy Nien 
Minister for Foreign Affairs 
The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam 
 
cc:  ARF Foreign Ministers 
end text 
BURGHARDT