VZCZCXRO0432
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0178 0480847
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 170847Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7189
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0183
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH IMMEDIATE 4307
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA IMMEDIATE 0688
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 7030
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 0755
UNCLAS HANOI 000178
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL YI VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM SUPPORTS CONTINUED DEBATE ON KOSOVO
REF: State 16244
1. (SBU) A/DCM delivered reftel demarche on February 17 to Mr. Mai
Pham Dung, head of the MFA's Security Council Team. Dung responded
that the position of GVN is well-founded on principles of collective
resolution of conflicts and respect for territorial integrity and
international law, which would apply to Kosovo as well as other
similar problems. The GVN recognizes the position of the United
States on Kosovo and acknowledges there may be an impasse on the
issue, but Vietnam believes continued discussion would be useful.
2. (SBU) A/DCM emphasized that Kosovo is a unique case, that
Kosovo's supervised independence does not establish a precedent, and
that Resolution 1244 does not bar Kosovo's declaration of
independence. Where the Security Council is clearly divided,
further fruitless debate is not helpful. Dung responded that he
understood the USG position, but gave no indication that the GVN
would support it. He said he would report our demarche to his
superiors.
3. (SBU) Comment: Vietnam's response to this demarche is troubling.
Dung's remarks suggest that despite the GVN's regular declarations
of its willingness to cooperate with us in UNSC, it is not prepared
to follow through with concrete actions even on an issue such as
Kosovo, where it has minimal interests at stake. In this case it
appears Vietnam will indeed continue to pursue the debate,
regardless of how unhelpful and unproductive this is. End comment.
MICHALAK