Cablegate: Media Approves Ambassador's Hcmc Policy Speech

VZCZCXRO8697
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHM #1086 2681009
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251009Z SEP 06
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1501
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 1064
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 1581

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 001086

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON VM
SUBJECT: MEDIA APPROVES AMBASSADOR'S HCMC POLICY SPEECH

1.(U) Summary: Ambassador Marine's first major policy speech in
southern Vietnam was well-received, garnering a large and
diverse audience and extensive television and print media
coverage. Over 300 guests attended the September 20 event at
the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Union of Friendship Organizations
Hall, including government officials, scholars, businesspeople,
diplomats, students and the media. All national and HCMC-based
newspapers and television stations, as well as provincial press
from neighboring Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces covered the
event. In the two days following the speech, the Public Affairs
Section (PAS) noted more than twenty television, print and
online newspaper reports. Many of the print reports were
lengthy, over 2000 words, with front page coverage dedicated to
the more sensitive issues touched upon in the speech, including
human rights, military cooperation, and corruption in Vietnam.
End Summary.

2.(U) Vietnam television (VTV), HCMC Television (HTV), Dong Nai
Television (DTV) and Binh Duong Television (BTV) all carried
excerpts from the speech in their news coverage, with HTV
dedicating approximately five minutes to both the speech and to
the Ambassador's participation in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for
a new U.S. Student Advising Office later that same day.

3.(U) In general, media reports emphasized the Ambassador's
statements on achievements in U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade, as
well as cooperation on public health issues, assistance to
people with disabilities, and seeking those missing in action,
in addition to cultural and educational exchange activities. The
nation's most popular online newspaper Vietnam Net and the
national English language daily Vietnam News also carried the
Ambassador's comments about seeking progress on human rights and
religious freedom issues. VN Express Online's coverage reported
that the United States and Vietnam have a growing military to
military relationship.

4. Sample newspaper headlines included the following: U.S.
Envoy Says Ties With Vietnam Now in New Stage Of Development
(Saigon Times); US Envoy Hopeful About Trade Status For Vietnam
(Thanh Nien); US-Vietnam Relations to Move Forward in a
Strategic Manner (Lao Dong); PNTR is Not a Diplomatic Gift (VN
Express); Vietnam's Progress in Human Rights and Religious
Freedom: U.S. Ambassador (Vietnam Net); A New Wave of Investment
is Coming to Vietnam: U.S. Ambassador (Saigon Giai Phong); No
Reason for the United States not to Approve PNTR with Vietnam,
says U.S. Ambassador (Vietnam News Agency, Nguoi Lao Dong);
U.S.-Vietnam Ties Reach a New Stage (Tuoi Tre); U.S., Vietnam
Look to Boost Multi-faceted Relationship (Vietnam News); U.S.
and Vietnam Share Important National Interests (Phap Luat).

5. Several major dailies including Thanh Nien (Young People),
Tuoi Tre (Youth), Vietnam News Agency, and Nguoi Lao Dong
(Worker) emphasized the positive stance on establishing
permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Vietnam quoting
Ambassador Marine as saying, "There is no reason the U.S
Congress will not pass the draft bill on the Permanent Normal
Trade Relation status for Vietnam." Media sources also reported
on the Ambassador's comment that he also hopes that PNTR status
will be approved prior to the President's visit to Vietnam in
November.

6. Interestingly, most newspapers, including Phap Luat (Law),
Vietnam Net, Saigon Giai Phong (Saigon Marketing) , and Tuoi
Tre, chose to print in full a paragraph from the speech dealing
with corruption in Vietnam (full text of the speech may be found
on the U.S. Consulate General website at:
http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/uploads/imag es/l1QDX7_FbIF
sG_PcO0QUSg/09212006.pdf) PAS contacts confided that media sources
highlighted the Ambassador's comments on corruption due to the
significance of the topic for average Vietnamese, and the recent
GVN emphasis on addressing corruption.

7. The tone of media reports was generally positive and
straightforward, with no additional commentary from editors.
Coverage of the speech is expected to have a positive effect on
Vietnamese readers and government officials, as it emphasized
the strength of the bilateral relationship and affirmed U.S.
policy vis-~-vis Vietnam. PAS media contacts gave direct
positive feedback to PAS regarding the speech and thanked PAS
for organizing the event.

WINNICK

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