Cablegate: Restrictions On Us Ngos in Central Highlands?

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

2002HANOI02865 - UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ1126

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ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 SRPP-00
DS-00 EB-00 E-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
NSCE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00
PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 IRM-00 STR-00 TEST-00
TRSE-00 USIE-00 ECA-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /008W
------------------10261D 291002Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8218
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS HANOI 002865

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM PREF VM ETMIN
SUBJECT: RESTRICTIONS ON US NGOS IN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS?

REF: HANOI 2694

UNCLASSIFIED

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1. (SBU) IN A DISCUSSION WITH AMBASSADOR NOVEMBER 25,
PRESIDENT OF THE VIETNAM UNION OF FRIENDSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
(AND DELEGATE TO THE 11TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY) VU XUAN HONG
DENIED REPORTS THAT HE HAD RECOMMENDED A BAN ON US NGOS
AND/OR RELIGIOUS NGOS FROM OPERATING IN THE CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS. HE DID NOT, HOWEVER, DENY THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH
A RECOMMENDATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER, BUT IMPLIED THAT NO
FORMAL DECISION HAD BEEN REACHED.

2. (SBU) ECHOING COMMENTS MADE ON NOVEMBER 6 TO MINISTER
FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES KSOR PHUOC (REFTEL), AMBASSADOR
REITERATED THAT ANY SUCH DECISION TO BAN THESE NGOS WOULD
UNHELPFULLY REFLECT A "MISTRUST" OF THE U.S. AND WOULD RUN
COUNTER TO THE EFFORTS OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE THE
PROCESS OF FULL NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS. HE EMPHASIZED
THE POSITIVE ROLE THAT SUCH ORGANIZATIONS COULD PLAY IN
FURTHERING THE HUMANITARIAN OBJECTIVES OF BOTH GOVERNMENTS
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS OF THESE AREAS. HE
URGED THAT THE GVN NOT IMPOSE ANY SUCH BAN, AND INSTEAD WORK
TO CREATE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD ENABLE SUCH ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS TO OPERATE EFFECTIVELY.

3. (SBU) COMMENT: WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT SUCH A
DECISION IS IN THE WORKS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO VOICE OUR
CONCERNS ABOUT THE NEGATIVE AND COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE EFFECT
SUCH A STEP WOULD HAVE NOT ONLY IN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
FOR THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS SPECIFICALLY, BUT ALSO IN BROADER
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE BILATERAL RELATIONS.
BURGHARDT

UNCLASSIFIED

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UNCLASSIFIED

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