Cablegate: Demarche Delivered: Special Tribunal for Lebanon

VZCZCXRO8028
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #1367 3520245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170245Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8870
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH PRIORITY 5395
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0254

UNCLAS HANOI 001367

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ELA (IRWIN, LAWSON) AND EAP/MLS (BLACKSHAW)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM UNSC LE SY EUN VM

SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON

REF: STATE 129978

(SBU) In a December 16 discussion with the MFA's IO Division, Deputy
PolCouns delivered reftel points, emphasizing strong U.S. support
for the UN International Independent Investigation Commission
UNIIIC), Commissioner Bellemare, and the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon (STL). Per reftel, DPolCouns urged Vietnam to support a
two-month extension, until February 28, of UNIIIC's mandate in order
to ensure a smooth transition to the STL in The Hague. IO official
Tran Quang Trung stated that the MFA was aware of the issue, but had
not reached an official position. He promised to pass along the
substance of the demarche to his superiors in the MFA and to
Vietnam's UN Mission, noting -- as a personal observation -- that
the request for a two-month extension sounded reasonable.

MICHALAK

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