Cablegate: Unhcr/Vietnam Relations: "Never so Bad"

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

101050Z Jun 02

2002HANOI01502 - UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ6376

PAGE 01 HANOI 01502 101049Z
ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00
FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 LAB-01
VCE-00 NSAE-00 OIC-02 TEST-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /005W
------------------BA9A41 101049Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6714
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
USMISSION GENEVA

UNCLAS HANOI 001502

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/BCLTV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL VM CB HUMANR
SUBJECT: UNHCR/VIETNAM RELATIONS: "NEVER SO BAD"

1. (SBU) UNHCR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE JAHANSHAH ASSADI
BRIEFED CHARGE AND POL/C JUNE 10 ABOUT HIS MEETING EARLIER
THAT DAY WITH THE MFA'S NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CONSULAR
DEPARTMENT, BUI DINH DINH. ACCORDING TO ASSADI, DINH SPENT
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HANOI 01502 101049Z
ALMOST A HALF AN HOUR READING TALKING POINTS, EXPRESSING
"DISAPPOINTMENT" THAT THE UNHCR HAD "ABANDONED" THE
TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT UNDER "UNDUE INFLUENCE AND PRESSURE"
FROM THE US. DINH TOLD ASSADI THAT RELATIONS BETWEEN
VIETNAM AND UNHCR HAD "NEVER BEEN AS BAD AS NOW." HOWEVER,
DINH SUBSEQUENTLY SAID THAT THE MFA NOW WANTED TO "REBUILD
RELATIONS" WITH UNHCR.

2. (SBU) ASSADI NOTED TO CHARGE THAT HE HAD URGED THE MFA
TO LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE AND NOT DWELL ON THE PAST, WHILE
REMINDING DG DINH OF SOME OF THE UNHELPFUL GVN ACTIONS THAT
HAD PRECIPITATED THE COLLAPSE OF THE TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT
PROCESS. UNHCR IS NOW EAGER TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON MICRO-
PROJECTS TO ASSIST THE 200+ MONTAGNARD RETURNEES (ALMOST ALL
OF WHOM WERE "SPONTANEOUS") AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
ASSADI SAID THAT DG DINH HAD AGREED; THESE TALKS MAY BEGIN
DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 17. UNHCR HOPES TO BUILD ON ITS
SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE WITH MICRO-PROJECTS UNDER THE EARLIER
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION, DURING WHICH UNHCR SPENT USD
14.7 MILLION ON ABOUT 700 PROJECTS. ASSADI SAID THAT HE
BELIEVES UNHCR WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDING FOR
THIS NEW PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD NECESSARILY ENTAIL ADEQUATE
ACCESS TO THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS BY UNHCR STAFF. HE SAID
THAT HE HAD NOT YET REQUESTED A TRIP TO THE HIGHLANDS FOR
HIMSELF, BELIEVING THAT THE TIME WAS NOT YET PROPITIOUS.

3. (SBU) ASSADI EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUED
CLOSURE OF THE BORDER BY THE RCG, NOTING THAT UNHCR HAD
CREDIBLE REPORTS OF AT LEAST 250 PEOPLE HAVING BEEN TURNED
BACK IN RECENT MONTHS. HE WAS UNSURE WHETHER CAMBODIAN
OFFICIALS HAD ACTED ALONE OR WITH VIETNAMESE COOPERATION.
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 03 HANOI 01502 101049Z
UNHCR STAFF REMAINS IN RATTANAKIRI AND MAKES REGULAR TRIPS
TO MONDOLKIRI AS WELL, HE ADDED. HE URGED THAT THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CONSIDER SOON HOW BEST TO CONVINCE
THE RCG AGAIN TO RESPECT THE RIGHT OF FIRST ASYLUM. HE
REQUESTED USG SUPPORT FOR THIS PRINCIPLE.
PORTER

UNCLASSIFIED

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