Cablegate: Letter to Ambassador Hanford From Vice Minister of Public
VZCZCXRO3422
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #3004 3470139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130139Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4113
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH PRIORITY 2227
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS HANOI 003004
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, DRL/IRF
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KIRF PHUM PGOV HUMANR VM
SUBJECT: LETTER TO AMBASSADOR HANFORD FROM VICE MINISTER OF PUBLIC
SECURITY HUONG
1. (SBU) On December 8, Ministry of Public Security contacts passed
a letter to Poloff from Vice Minister Nguyen Van Huong to
Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom John Hanford
(unofficial translation below). Our contacts noted that lifting
Vietnam's Country of Particular Concern designation "had contributed
to the success of the President's November visit to Hanoi." As a
result of the visit, the GVN "feels closer to the United States than
it ever has," they added.
2. (SBU) Begin MPS letter:
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Hanoi, November 22, 2006
To: H.E. Mr. John V. Hanford
U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
Washington D.C., U.S.
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
I received your letter through Ambassador Marine. Finally, we have
managed to neutralize all problems; the fact that the United States
removed Vietnam from the list of "Countries of Particular Concern
for Religious Freedom Violations" (CPC) is an improvement in the
perspective of the U.S. Government on Vietnam, and I highly
appreciate your and Ambassador Marine's contributions, and, in a
broader sense, your important contributions to the development of
the relations between our two countries.
First, I would like to thank you for your kind words, which
confirmed that I managed to accomplish what my Government and people
had requested of me. I have also been pleased each time I work with
you by virtue of your frank, open and very practical attitude. Thus
we were able to narrow our differences to reach an understanding
appropriate to the conditions and situation of our two countries.
You and I should truly be proud of our modest contribution to the
development of the relations between our two countries and I believe
that, with your talents and current position, you will further
contribute to the strengthening of the good relations of our two
countries.
I wish you and your wife good health and happiness, and look forward
to seeing you and your wife in Hanoi to find a common happiness
between us.
Sincerely,
(Signed)
General Nguyen Van Huong
Vice Minister of Public Security
End text of letter.
3. (SBU) Original letter and translation dispatched by pouch.
MARINE