Cablegate: Reviving the Counternarcotics Loa

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

UNCLAS HANOI 000550

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV; INL/AAE; L/LEI (Sandage)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL EAID VM CNARC
SUBJECT: REVIVING THE COUNTERNARCOTICS LOA

REF: 02 Hanoi 2490

1. (SBU) Pham Quang Vinh, Deputy Director General of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of International
Organizations, told poloff on March 7 that the "will is
there for completing the LOA in the next several months.
What remains is to work on the technical details." Vinh
said that he would present an "unofficial, personal"
response to the Department's non-paper (ref) "within a
week."

2. (SBU) Vinh said that he will have a heavy travel
schedule over the next six weeks; however, he pledged to
convene an interministerial meeting at the deputy director
level "soon" and see where everyone stands. He left open
the possibility that, in case of non-consensus at the deputy
level, he would request policy input at the vice-ministerial
level.

3. (SBU) Without going into specifics, Vinh said that the
Leahy language changes suggested in the Department's non-
paper "look good." The two "toughest" issues remaining
continue to be those concerning tax liabilities and immunity
status for temporary personnel assigned to future drug
assistance projects.

4. (SBU) Poloff told Vinh that the Department's non-paper
from last October should serve as a roadmap when he carries
out his interministerial deliberations. Vinh agreed to
convey this message to his colleagues and leadership.
BURGHARDT

© Scoop Media