Cablegate: Gvn Concerned Over Vietnam Human Rights Act

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

UNCLAS HANOI 000619

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI PGOV VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: GVN CONCERNED OVER VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

1. (U) In a meeting with Charge on March 13, Assistant
Foreign Minister Nguyen Duc Hung, concurrently Director of
the MFA's America's Department, expressed concern that the
Vietnam Human Rights Act (VHRA) will be reintroduced in the
U.S. House of Representatives. Such legislation is "not in
the interests of either the U.S. or Vietnam and will harm
the bilateral relationship," Hung stated. "No one wants a
repeat of what happened in 2001," he claimed. Hung also
predicted that the legislation would lead to "strong
reactions from the media and the Vietnamese people."

2. (U) Hung told the Charge that, while the GVN
understands that this bill represents only a "small minority
view," it is "counterproductive." He asked that the Charge
inform Washington how seriously this bill, if introduced,
will be viewed in Vietnam. He urged that the Department
work against the VHRA reintroduction to avoid a "strong
reaction" in Vietnam. In contrast, Hung pointed to the
success of last week's Asia Society conference and how it
had "done much" to advance "mutual understanding,"
especially with the US business community.

3. (U) Charge told Hung that he would pass the GVN's
concern to Washington. He urged Hung to encourage the GVN
embassy in Washington to increase its outreach efforts to
the Vietnamese community and others in the U.S. PORTER

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