Cablegate: New Senior Leadership Taking Over

VZCZCXRO1302
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1580 1780750
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 270750Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2526
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1406
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 001580

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR VM
SUBJECT: New Senior Leadership Taking Over

Ref: A) Hanoi 1245 and previous; B) Hanoi 1398

1. (SBU) Summary and Comment: Vietnam's months-long leadership
transition is coming to an end this week with the National
Assembly's formal election of President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu
Trong. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem will also assume his
new role as Foreign Minister this week. As these new leaders get
settled, we expect a number of changes among senior officials,
including at the Foreign Ministry. End Summary and Comment.

2. (SBU) More than two months after the close of the 10th Party
Congress at which the Communist Party of Vietnam's (CPV) new
Politburo and Central Committee were chosen (Ref A), Vietnam's new
senior leaders are now being formally tapped to take over. Outgoing
President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National
Assembly Chairman Nguyan Van An submitted their resignations to the
National Assembly on June 25.

3. (SBU) The National Assembly subsequently elected former Hanoi
Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as the new Assembly Chairman. On
June 27, the National Assembly elected former HCMC Party Secretary
Nguyen Minh Triet as State President, and he in turn nominated
Standing Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung to succeed Phan Van
Khai as Prime Minister. Dzung's formal election to the office of
Prime Minister is also scheduled to take place on June 27.

4. (SBU) Comment: According to a contact at the MFA, the election
of the new Foreign Minister -- current Deputy Prime Minister Pham
Gia Khiem -- will take place "sometime this week." VFM Le Van Bang
told the Ambassador earlier this month that there will be a number
of personnel changes in the MFA, up to and including the current
vice ministers (Ref B). We expect similar personnel changes to take
place throughout the GVN and National Assembly as the new leaders
settle in. End Comment.

MARINE

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