Cablegate: Gvn to Return Great Seals to Usg

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

ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DS-00
E-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
VCE-00 NSAE-00 PER-00 SP-00 FMP-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /000W
------------------F9FE33 030805Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7897
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY

UNCLAS HANOI 001300

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/BCLTV, L/EAP
HO CHI MINH CITY FOR CONS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL VM
SUBJECT: GVN to Return Great Seals to USG

1.(SBU) Deputy Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) Consular Department, Truong Xuan Thanh, and Charge met
May 27 to discuss the return of two Great Seals of the
United States that have been in the possession of the GVN
since 1975. This was a follow-on of discussions between
Ambassador Marine and Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang.

2. (SBU) According to MFA, both seals bear the inscription,
"Consulate General, United States of America." Our original
request was for the return of the seal taken from the
consular section of the former U.S. Embassy in Saigon and
displayed in a museum in Ho Chi Minh City. MFA has told us
that the second seal was in the possession of a military
museum in Hanoi, but they do not know from which consulate
general it was taken.

3. (SBU) Thanh proposed that the seals be returned to the
Ambassador in a low-key but formal ceremony prior to the
visit of the Prime Minister to Washington. While no media
would be invited to the ceremony, the GVN would like to
coordinate with the USG a press release noting the handover.
Thanh suggested that we agree on a text of "minutes" to be
signed by both parties at the time of the handover. After
several exchanges with MFA, we have tentatively agreed on
the following text.

3. (SBU) Begin text:

MINUTES ON THE RETURN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM OF 02 (TWO) PLAQUES, EACH DEPICTING THE
GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

At the formal request of the Government of the United States
of America;

To implement the Agreement between the Government of the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the
United States of America signed on 28 January 1995
concerning the transfer of diplomatic properties;

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam agrees
to return to the Government of the United States of America
02 (two) plaques, each depicting the Great Seal of the
United States and bearing the inscription "Consulate
General, United States of America." Prior to 1975, the
plaques were located in diplomatic establishments of the
United States.

On .. June 2005, at ..., Mr. Bui Dinh Dinh - Director
General of the Consular Department of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
returned the two above-mentioned plaques to Michael W.
Marine, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
United States of America in Hanoi.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the two representatives have signed these
Minutes acknowledging the return of the two plaques.

These Minutes are made in Hanoi on .. June 2005 in 02 (two)
originals in Vietnamese and English and both versions are
equally valid.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF
OF VIETNAM AMERICA

BUI DINH DINH - DIRECTOR MICHAEL W. MARINE
GENERAL OF THE CONSULAR AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND
DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF PLENIPOTENTIARY
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

End text.

MARINE

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