Cablegate: Vietnam On Rightsizing the Iaea Sfeguards Budget

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

UNCLAS HANOI 000647

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ABUD KNNP TRGY OVIP OPDC VM IAEA
SUBJECT: VIETNAM ON RIGHTSIZING THE IAEA SFEGUARDS BUDGET

REF: STATE 13752

1. (U) In response to reftel letter from Deputy Secretary
Armitage and demarche on rightsizing the IAEA safeguards
budget, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen
Dinh Bin responded in a letter dated March 17, 2003
indicating Vietnam's support for general and complete
disarmament, the need for adequate resources for the IAEA
along with further consultation among member states on this
proposal, and the importance of a balance in funding between
safeguard and technical assistance activities. Full text in
para 2.

2. (U) Quote
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Hanoi, 17 March, 2003

Dear Mr. Deputy Secretary,

I would like to thank you for the letter dated 7 February
2003 with regard to the proposal of the Director General of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to increase
the IAEA's regular budget for safeguard in 2004-2005.
Vietnam has for many years supported general and complete
disarmament, especially nuclear disarmament and non-
proliferation. Vietnam's signing of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty (1982) and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (1996) and
being a party to the Treaty on South East Asia Nuclear
Weapon Free Zone (1995) have all demonstrated our commitment
and contribution in the joint efforts of the international
community toward eliminating nuclear weapons and a peaceful
and more secure world. I am also of the view that nuclear
energy has to be utilized for peaceful purposes and in
service of human life.

The Agency, in fulfilling its mandates effectively, needs to
be provided with adequate resources. In this regard, the
DG's proposal is very important, but it requires that all
member states work together to reach an agreement on the
issue. In addition, it is worth noting that a balance
should be taken into account in allocating funding for
safeguard and technical assistance activities.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

Sincerely yours,

//s// Nguyen Dinh Bin
Standing Deputy Minister

The Honorable Richard L. Armitage
Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC USA
end quote
PORTER

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