Cablegate: Vietnam's Response to Doe Letter On Dalat Nuclear

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

131025Z May 05

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INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 CIP-00 COME-00 CTME-00
INL-00 DNI-00 DODE-00 ITCE-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 AC-00 NRC-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-00 NIMA-00
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------------------EE50B4 131039Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7626
DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY

UNCLAS HANOI 001121

SIPDIS

FOR DOE/NA-212 KASIA MENDELSOHN AND NP/NE ALLAN KRASS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP ENRG TRGY VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM'S RESPONSE TO DOE LETTER ON DALAT NUCLEAR
REACTOR CONVERSION

REFTEL: State 020957

1. The Deputy Chief of Mission received a letter (in
Vietnamese) dated May 4, 2005 from Vice Minister of Science
and Technology (MOST) Dr. Tran Quoc Thang responding to
DOE's February 14, 2005 letter regarding the Dalat Nuclear
Research Reactor. According to the letter, MOST appreciates
DOE's collaborative efforts to date, but they would like
additional meetings and information, as well as visits to
Argonne National Laboratory. Text of the letter follows.

2. Begin Text.

Hanoi, May 4, 2005

Mr. John Boardman
Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy in Vietnam

Dear Mr. Deputy Chief of Mission,

The Ministry of Science and Technology would like to
respectfully extend to you its thanks for your cooperation
for the relations between our two countries in general, and
in the field of science and technology in particular.

With reference to the proposal of the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) presented in its letter dated February 14, 2005
on its support to Vietnam within the Trilateral Cooperation
Program of the United States, the IAEA and Russia on the
conversion of nuclear fuel rods, the Ministry of Science and
Technology respectfully thanks the sense of cooperation of
that proposal and would like to comment as follows:

1. The Ministry of Science and Technology always confirms
its attention to and efforts in taking measures to ensure
and strengthen nuclear security.

2. Over the past period, with the cooperation of the
Embassy and you personally, U.S. experts and experts of the
Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute have exchanged initial
contacts and information. For example: the working visits
of Dr. Dedik (in February 2004) and Dr. Catherine Rebecca
Mendelsohn (in December 2004). We highly appreciate those
initial contacts and exchanges between experts of the two
countries with a view to exchange experience and strengthen
cooperation and mutual assistance on issues of mutual
concern.
3. In the coming period, with the support of you, Mr.
Deputy Chief of Mission, the two sides will continue to
facilitate our experts in exchanging more contacts and
detailed information on the technical issues raised by the
above-mentioned working visits. We also would like the U.S.
side to facilitate a number of Vietnamese experts to visit
and work with their American colleagues at the Argonne
National Laboratory (ANL) to have in-depth discussions on
technical contents.
Once again, the Ministry of Science and Technology
respectfully thanks Mr. Deputy Chief of Mission and would
like to request you to give its best regards to Dr. Kasia
Mendelsohn, Acting Director of Office of Global Nuclear
Materials Threat Reduction.

Sincerely,

(Signed)
Prof. Dr. Tr?n Qu?c Th?ng
Vice Minister of Science and Technology

End text.

3. Should you have additional questions, Embassy Hanoi's
point of contact is Economic Officer Jay Avecilla who can be
reached by email at avecillajt@state.gov.

MARINE

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