Cablegate: Gvn Objects to Human Rights Report

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

110618Z Mar 05

ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CA-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00
DS-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
LAB-01 VCE-00 NSAE-00 NIMA-00 PA-00 GIWI-00 CFPP-00
SP-00 FMP-00 BBG-00 IIP-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /001W
------------------C8805C 110623Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6977
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY

UNCLAS HANOI 000598

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV and DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV VM HUMANR
SUBJECT: GVN OBJECTS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

1. (SBU) Deputy America's Department Director Nguyen Ba Hung
and U.S. Desk Director Nguyen Hoanh Nam met March 11 with
PolCouns and Poloff to express the GVN's "disappointment"
about the Vietnam section of the 2004 Human Rights Report.
"The report ignores many of the new things that are
happening in Vietnam and gives a distorted and unfair view"
of the country, Hung said. Further, many in Vietnam's
leadership "feel uncomfortable" after reading the Report and
call into question efforts to improve relations with the
United States. The Report will be used "as a weapon" by
those in the United States who do not want bilateral
relations to improve. Some people may use the Report to
make allegations and introduce legislation in Congress
critical of Vietnam. "This comes just as our relations were
getting on the right track," Hung said.

2. (SBU) PolCouns responded that the Report is written on
countries worldwide and does not single Vietnam out for any
specific treatment. This year's report does reflect
improvements in Vietnam, although perhaps not as much as the
GVN would like. If there are any factual errors in the
report, however, the Embassy would welcome corrections from
the GVN. Mr. Hung responded by suggesting that, in future,
the Embassy meet with the GVN to discuss information to be
included in the Report, and not simply "get the views of
those hostile to the Government."
MARINE

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