Skip to main contentReference ID: 01HANOI989
Created: 2001-04-26 09:04
Released: 2011-08-30 01:44
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Origin: Embassy Hanoi
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
260904Z Apr 01
2001HANOI00989 - UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ8135
PAGE 01 HANOI 00989 01 OF 05 260919Z
ACTION STR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 CTME-00
DODE-00 ITCE-00 DOTE-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EB-00 EXME-00
E-00 FAAE-00 FBIE-00 UTED-00 VC-00 FRB-00 H-01
TEDE-00 INR-00 ITC-01 LAB-01 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00
OES-01 OMB-01 OPIC-01 PM-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00
SSO-00 TEST-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 DRL-02 G-00
NFAT-00 SAS-00 /009W
------------------E41ECD 260920Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2675
INFO DEPTTREAS WASHDC
NSC WASHDC
USDOC WASHDC
USDA WASHDC
DEPTLABOR WASHDC
AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 HANOI 000989
SIPDIS
STATE FOR H, EB, EAP/BCLTV
STATE PASS USTR
TREASURY FOR OASIA
USDOC FOR 1431/MAC/AP/HPPHO
USDA FOR FAS/ITP/SHEIK & FAS/ICD
USDOL FOR ILAB
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HANOI 00989 01 OF 05 260919Z
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD ELAB PREL VM BTA LABOR
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL ATKINS VISIT TO HANOI APRIL 15-18; BTA ON THEIR MINDS
1. SUMMARY: ON THE EVE OF VIETNAM'S NINTH PARTY CONGRESS,
THE GVN HOSTED A LARGE DELEGATION OF CONGRESSIONAL STAFF
MEMBERS AND AN ACCOMPANYING U.S. BUSINESS GROUP. THE U.S.
VIETNAM TRADE COUNCIL UNDERWROTE THE EVENT. DESPITE
SENIORMOST GVN LEADERSHIP BEING TIED UP IN PRE-PARTY
CONGRESS PLENUMS, THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WITH SUPPORT FROM
THE MFA AMERICAS DEPARTMENT, SUCCEEDED (AFTER MUCH EMBASSY
PRODDING) IN SETTING UP A RANGE OF USEFUL MEETINGS FOR THE
STAFFDEL, INCLUDING AT THE VICE MINISTERIAL LEVEL. ALTHOUGH
THE STAFFDEL REPRESENTED DIFFERING VIEWS, MUCH OF THEIR
ATTENTION WAS DIRECTED TO LEARNING ABOUT VIETNAM'S ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, THE LABOR SITUATION, AND PROSPECTS FOR BTA
IMPLEMENTATION. AT PRACTICALLY EVERY MEETING, THE GVN TOOK
THE OCCASION TO ASK WHEN THE BTA WOULD BE TRANSMITTED TO
CONGRESS. END SUMMARY
2. FROM APRIL 15-18, A DELEGATION OF TWELVE STAFF MEMBERS
FROM BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE VISITED HANOI. EARNEST
"CHUCK"ATKINS, CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE BART
GORDON (D-TENNESSEE), LED THE DELEGATION. REPRESENTATIVES
OF GE, APL, AIG, NIKE, ACE, U.S. BORAX, CITIGROUP, UNOCAL,
AND BOEING, ALSO PARTICIPATED IN ALL EVENTS. (A LIST OF THE
FULL DELEGATION, INCLUDING STAFF MEMBERS AND BUSINESS
PEOPLE, CAN BE FOUND AT THE END OF THIS CABLE.) THE
WASHINGTON-BASED U.S. VIETNAM TRADE COUNCIL SPONSORED THE
GROUP'S VISIT TO VIETNAM. EMBASSY FOREIGN COMMERCIAL
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PAGE 03 HANOI 00989 01 OF 05 260919Z
SERVICE AND THE ECONOMIC SECTION ASSISTED IN THE
ARRANGEMENTS AND SUPPORT. THIS WAS THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION WE CAN REMEMBER THAT ARRIVED IN VIETNAM VIA THE
LAND BORDER WITH GUANGXI, CHINA. THE GROUP SUCCEEDED IN
CROSSING AT DONG DANG WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AND SAW SIX HOURS
WORTH OF NORTHERN VIETNAM EN ROUTE TO HANOI BY BUS.
3. WITH REGARD TO VIETNAMESE MEETINGS, THE DELEGATION MET
WITH MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE OF THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (LED BY COMMITTEE CHAIR DO VAN TAI);
OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (INCLUDING
ASSISTANT MINISTER NGUYEN CHIEN THANG AND ACTING DIRECTOR OF
AMERICA'S DEPT DOAN XUAN HUNG); OFFICIALS OF MINISTRY OF
TRADE (LED BY FIRST VICE MINISTER LUONG VAN TU); OFFICIALS
OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (LED BY FIRST
VICE MINISTER NGUYEN LUONG TRAO); AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOR (LED BY VICE CHAIR DR. DANG
NGOC CHIEN). THE GROUP ALSO MET WITH MS. ROSEMARY GREVE,
RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION,
AND THE NGO COMMITTEE OF THE HANOI CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN VIETNAM. THE EMBASSY PROVIDED AN
EXTENSIVE BRIEFING FOR THE DELEGATION CHAIRED BY THE
AMBASSADOR, WHO, TOGETHER WITH MRS. PETERSON, ALSO HOSTED
THE DELEGATION TO A RECEPTION AT THE RESIDENCE. FROM HANOI,
THE DELEGATION TRAVELED TO HCMC FOR A BRIEFER PROGRAM IN THE
SOUTH.
4. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY MEETING NOTES PROVIDE A VIEW OF THE
STAFFDELS INTERESTS AND THE GVN'S RESPONSES. ASSISTANT
MINISTER THANG BEGAN THE MEETING BY EXPRESSING THE DESIRE
THAT THE STAFFDEL'S VISIT WOULD SERVE TO SPEED UP
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PAGE 04 HANOI 00989 01 OF 05 260919Z
RATIFICATION OF THE BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENT (BTA). HE
REFERRED TO RECENT IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP,
INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NOVEMBER 2000 VISIT AND
THE FATAL APRIL 7 CRASH OF A U.S.-VIETNAM MIA SEARCH TEAM
HELICOPTER. HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT BILATERAL RELATIONS
WOULD CONTINUE TO PROGRESS DESPITE THE TRAGEDY OF THE CRASH.
5. HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE MINORITY STAFF COUNCIL
TIM REIF PROVIDED THANG AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF BTA
RATIFICATION ON THE U.S. SIDE. NOTING THE CURRENT
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE ADMINISTRATION, HE
POINTED OUT THE BROAD CONSENSUS AMONG MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES
AND PARTIES IN FAVOR OF PASSAGE. HE SAID THAT THERE ARE TWO
PRINCIPLE ISSUES OUTSTANDING, WHETHER THE BTA SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED ALONE OR AS PART OF A PACKAGE WITH OTHER
AGREEMENTS, AND THE ROLE OF LABOR STANDARDS.
6. DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF & LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR
CONGRESSMAN CLAY SHAW (R-FLORIDA) CASTRO ASKED THANG WHETHER
THE THEN UPCOMING PARTY CONGRESS (APRIL 19-22) WOULD
CONSIDER SUCH ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION MEASURES AS PRIVATE
OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY AND RELINQUISHING GOVERNMENT CONTROL
OF THE ECONOMY. THANG REPLIED THAT THE PARTY CONGRESS WOULD
ACCELERATE VIETNAM'S "DOI MOI" ("RENOVATION") PROCESS. HE
SPELLED OUT THE HISTORY OF DOI MOI AND ITS ACHIEVEMENTS TO
DATE. HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE STATE SECTOR WILL
CONTINUE TO PLAY THE PRIMARY ROLE IN VIETNAM'S MULTISECTORAL
COMMODITY ECONOMY.
7. JOAB LESESNE, CHIEF OF STAFF FOR SENATOR HOLLINGS (D-
SOUTH CAROLINA) ASKED THANG ABOUT VIETNAM'S LEADERSHIP ROLE
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE ASEAN. THANG REPLIED THAT
VIETNAM'S LEADERSHIP PROFILE HAS INCREASED SINCE ASSUMING
THE CHAIR OF THE ASEAN STANDING COMMITTEE LAST YEAR. HE
SAID VIETNAM WOULD BE HOLDING THE 34TH ASEAN MINISTERIAL IN
HANOI. HE SAID THAT "THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN SITUATION" HAD
BECOME DIFFICULT. HE CITED RECENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
INSTABILITY IN INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, AND THE PHILIPPINES,
POINTING OUT THAT VIETNAM, IN CONTRAST, "HAS MAINTAINED
INTERNAL STABILITY." HE SAID VIETNAM HOPES TO FOSTER
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ASEAN DURING ITS TENURE AS CHAIR, AND
NOTED THAT DESPITE INSTABILITY IN SOME ASEAN COUNTRIES, THE
ORGANIZATION "STANDS UNITED."
8. COUNSEL REIF ASKED THANG TO COMMENT ON RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE PRC.
THANG REPLIED THAT BOTH ARE MAJOR POWERS. THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE TWO HAS IMPLICATIONS ON PEACE AND SECURITY IN
THE REGION, AND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. AS A PEACEFUL
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP GROWS, IT WILL SERVE TO ASSURE PEACE
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PAGE 03 HANOI 00989 02 OF 05 260920Z
IN THE REGION. VIETNAM, HE SAID, HAS FOLLOWED THE EP-3
INCIDENT WITH "KEEN INTEREST." THANG CONCLUDED THAT VIETNAM
DESIRES COOPERATIVE, FRIENDLY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PRC AND
THE U.S.
9. AUDREY LESESNE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CONGRESSMAN
MIKE MCINTRYRE ASKED THANG ABOUT VIETNAM'S ABILITY TO
IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LABOR STANDARDS. THANG
EXPLAINED THAT THE MINISTRY OF LABOR, WAR INVALIDS AND
SOCIAL WELFARE (MOLISA), WITH WHOM THE STAFFDEL WAS MEETING
SEPARATELY, COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION IN MORE DETAIL.
NEVERTHELESS, HE POINTED OUT THAT VIETNAM IS A COUNTRY OF
WORKERS, EIGHTY PERCENT OF THEM IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
THEY WORK UNDER EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS, HE SAID,
CAUSED BY THE LINGERING AFTERMATH OF THE WAR AND DIFFICULT
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS. HE ALSO CITED NATURAL DISASTERS, SUCH
AS FLOODS. HE SAID THAT THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM "GREATLY
VALUE THE VALUE OF WORK." VIETNAM DESIRES THAT VIETNAMESE
WORKERS LIVE UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS OTHER WORKERS IN
THE REGION. THE RIGHT CONDITIONS MUST BE CREATED SO THAT
VIETNAM CAN TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ITS LABOR FORCE, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT VIETNAM ALSO HAS IMPLEMENTED A LABOR CODE, AND
HAS JOINED THE INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION (ILO). HUNG
ADDED THAT VIETNAM'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS AND
THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE. IN THIS
REGARD, HE SAID HE WAS PLEASED WITH U.S.-VIETNAMESE
SIGNATURE OF AN MOU ON LABOR COOPERATION.
10. OBSERVING THAT SIGNING THE BTA IS ONE STEP TOWARDS
ACCEDING TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO), CASTRO ASKED
WHAT ELSE VIETNAM IS DOING TO JOIN. MAN SAID THAT VIETNAM
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PAGE 04 HANOI 00989 02 OF 05 260920Z
BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS TO ENTER THE WTO IN 1995. THE FIRST
STEP, CLARIFYING THE TRADE REGIME, IS NOW COMPLETE. THE
SECOND STEP IS PREPARING APPROPRIATE TARIFF REDUCTIONS AND
REMOVAL OF NON-TARIFF MEASURES. ALL RELEVANT VIETNAMESE
MINISTRIES ARE NOW PREPARING FOR THE INITIAL OFFER, HE SAID.
THE COMPARATIVE STRENGTHS OF THE VIETNAMESE ECONOMY MUST BE
IDENTIFIED IN ORDER TO BRING VIETNAM INTO THE STRONGEST
POSITION POSSIBLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER.
VIETNAM HAS BEEN EXCHANGING VIEWS WITH COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE
RECENTLY ACCEDED TO THE WTO, SUCH AS UKRAINE. VIETNAM IS
NOW ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY WHO WILL BE THE FIRST PARTNER TO
NEGOTIATE WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EU OR THE U.S.
DOMESTICALLY, HE SAID, VIETNAM NEEDS TO CONTINUE DOI MOI,
ADJUST THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND CARRY OUT THE ECONOMIC
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE COUNTRY. THE DECISIVE FACTORS FOR
INTEGRATION WILL BE THE EFFICIENCY AND COMPETITIVENESS OF
THE VIETNAMESE ECONOMY, HE SAID.
11. IN THEIR MEETING WITH VICE MINISTER TU OF THE TRADE
MINISTRY, THE QUESTIONS MORE SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON TRADE-
RELATED MATTERS. CHUCK ATKINS, THE STAFFDEL LEADER, ASKED
ABOUT THE NATURE OF VIETNAM'S TRADE AND WHICH SECTORS WERE
GROWING. TU RESPONDED THAT DESPITE GAINS IN
INDUSTRIALIZATION, VIETNAM REMAINS VERY MUCH AN AGRICULTURAL
COUNTRY AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS ACCOUNT FOR SOME THIRTY
PERCENT OF TOTAL EXPORTS. SEAFOOD PRODUCTS AND FISHERIES
EXPORTS WERE DOING ESPECIALLY WELL. HANDICRAFT ITEMS WERE
IMPORTANT AND HELPED ABSORB EXCESS LABOR. ELECTRONICS
EXPORTS HAVE GROWN FROM ALMOST NOTHING TO A SIGNIFICANT
SHARE OF TOTAL EXPORTS IN ONLY A FEW YEARS. FINALLY, TU
COMMENTED ON THE GOVERNMENT'S DESIRE TO PROMOTE SOFTWARE
EXPORTS IN THE FUTURE, IN PART TO PUT TO WORK MANY CURRENTLY
UNDEREMPLOYED, BUT TALENTED, VIETNAMESE.
12. TIM REIF ASKED ABOUT VIETNAMESE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO
IMPLEMENT TRANSPARENCY AND SERVICES COMMITMENTS, AS WELL AS
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GOODS CHAPTER OF THE BTA RELATING TO
DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS, IN LIGHT OF THE MONOPOLIES OR NEAR
MONOPOLIES OF SOES WHICH WILL RESIST SUCH LIBERALIZATION.
REIF ALSO ASKED REGARDING INTERNATIONAL LABOR STANDARDS AND
WHERE THE TRADE MINISTRY STOOD ON THAT ISSUE. TU REPLIED
THAT HIS GOVERNMENT DEEPLY APPRECIATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THE USVTC (THROUGH A USAID
GRANT) WHICH HAS PROVEN HIGHLY USEFUL. HE MENTIONED THE BTA
WAS NEGOTIATED WITH THE WTO IN MIND AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS
ALREADY TAKING STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT. A NUMBER
OF VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN
EXAMINING THE COMMITMENTS AND ANALYZING WHAT WILL NEED TO BE
DONE TO ADDRESS THE COMMITMENTS. REGARDING TRANSPARENCY, IN
PARTICULAR, HE NOTED THIS SAME ISSUE ARISES NOT ONLY IN THE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HANOI 00989 03 OF 05 260920Z
BTA, BUT ALSO IN CONNECTION WITH DISCUSSIONS WHICH TAKE
PLACE IN THE AFTA AND WTO CONTEXTS. TU MENTIONED RECENT
LAWS ALREADY PASSED (E.G., LAST YEAR'S INVESTMENT LAW
AMENDMENTS), THE CUSTOMS LAW DRAFT WHICH WILL SOON BE
SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AND OTHERS AS EXAMPLES
OF WORK UNDERWAY. HE POINTED OUT THAT VIETNAM HAS LICENSED
A NUMBER OF FOREIGN INSURERS, INCLUDING AIA OF THE U.S.,
THUS INDICATING THAT VIETNAM IS INDEED PURSUING SERVICE
SECTOR LIBERALIZATION.
13. WITH REGARD TO GOODS DISTRIBUTION, TU MENTIONED THAT
COMPANIES LIKE COCA COLA ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN DISTRIBUTION
NETWORKS. "WE'RE ALREADY BEYOND WHAT THE COMMITMENTS
REQUIRE," HE CLAIMED AT ONE POINT. FURTHERMORE, HE
INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS EQUITIZING AN EVER-LARGER
NUMBER OF SOES, AND THE IMF AND WORLD BANK ARE HELPING THE
GOVERNMENT IN THAT PROCESS. ON LABOR STANDARDS, TU DEFERRED
TO MOLISA TO ADDRESS THE ANSWER, BUT POINTED OUT THAT THE
U.S. AND VIETNAM WERE ALREADY COOPERATING VIA THE MOU ON
LABOR COOPERATION AND DIALOGUE SIGNED WHEN FORMER PRESIDENT
CLINTON VISITED IN NOVEMBER 2000.
14. SENATOR MCCAIN'S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR NANCY IVES
MENTIONED THAT THE SENATOR WAS KEEN TO HAVE THE BTA TAKEN UP
IN THE CONGRESS BECAUSE IT PROVIDED A `ROADMAP' FOR REFORM
OF THE TRADE AND INVESTMENT SECTORS OF THE VIETNAMESE
ECONOMY. FINALLY, CONGRESSMAN DUNN'S LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR
VERGIL CABASCO ASKED REGARDING VIETNAM'S APPROACH TO ILLICIT
TRANSSHIPMENT OF GOODS THROUGH THE COUNTRY. VICE MINISTER
TU ADMITTED THAT ILLEGAL TRANSSHIPMENT WAS NOT AN EASY
PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH IN LIGHT OF THE COUNTRY'S 3000
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PAGE 04 HANOI 00989 03 OF 05 260920Z
KILOMETERS OF COASTLINE AND 70 SEAPORTS, BUT THE GVN WAS
AWARE OF ITS IMPORTANCE AND HAS BEGUN ADDRESSING IT VIA A
NEWLY ISSUED DECREE SUBJECTING WOULD BE TRANSSHIPPERS TO
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS. (NB. IN MID-MAY, THE U.S. CUSTOMS
SERVICE WILL PRESENT SEMINARS IN HANOI AND HCMC TO
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMS AND TEXTILE INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES ON
TRANSSHIPMENT ISSUES AND WAYS TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM.
EMBASSY AND CONSULATE GENERAL HCMC ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
MINISTRY OF TRADE AND OTHER VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS IN MAKING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SEMINARS.)
COMMENT
-------
15. THIS BACK-AND-FORTH PROVIDES ONLY A REPRESENTATIVE
SAMPLE OF THE CONSIDERABLE INFORMATION ABOUT VIETNAM
EXCHANGED DURING THE STAFFDEL VISIT. WHILE THE BTA WAS
CLEARLY FOREMOST ON THE STAFFERS' MINDS, THEY ALSO ASKED
QUESTIONS THE ANSWERS TO WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE
UPCOMING ANNUAL DISAPPROVAL VOTE FOR THE JACKSON-VANIK
WAIVER EXTENSION. IN ADDITION TO ECONOMIC MATTERS, THEY
ALSO EXPRESSED KEEN INTEREST IN VIETNAM'S POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT. REGARDING THE LATTER INTEREST, THE STAFFDEL
ARRIVED IN HANOI AT ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING MOMENTS IN
VIETNAM'S MODERN HISTORY, AS THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COUNTRY
WAS BEING DECIDED IN PREPARATION FOR THE NINTH PARTY
CONGRESS.
16. STAFFDEL LIST:
EARNEST CHARLES ATKINS
CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE BART GORDON (D-
TENN)
VERGIL CABASCO
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER
DUNN (D-WASHINGTON)
ROBERT JAMES CASTRO
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF & LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR - OFFICE OF
REPRESENTATIVE CLAY SHAW (R-FLORIDA)
LIONEL COLLINS
CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM JEFFERSON
(D-LOUISIANA)
NANCY IVES
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR - OFFICE OF SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN (R-
ARIZONA)
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HANOI 00989 04 OF 05 260921Z
AUDREY LESESNE
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE MIKE
MCINTRYRE (D-NORTH CAROLINA)
JOAB LESESNE
CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF SENATOR EARNEST HOLLINGS (D-SOUTH
CAROLINA)
MIKE MESSNER
STAFF - DEMOCRATIC POLICY COMMITTEE, OFFICE OF HOUSE
MINORITY LEADER RICHARD GEPHARDT (D-MISSOURI)
DONNA M. PIGNATELLI
CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE SHERROD BROWN (D-
OHIO)
TIM REIF
DEMOCRATIC CHIEF TRADE COUNCIL - HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND
MEANS
BRADLEY SMITH
CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE DAVID DREIER (R-
CALIFORNIA)
LINDA GENE SMITH
CHIEF OF STAFF - OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD BERMAN (R-
CALIFORNIA)
17. ACCOMPANYING BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVES:
GEORGE ROBERT WALLACE
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PAGE 04 HANOI 00989 04 OF 05 260921Z
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY, GENERAL ELECTRIC
LAWRENCE COSGRIFF
VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, APL LIMITED
JOSEPH DILLON
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS, AIG
BRAD FIGEL
DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NIKE
JOHN MORTIMER FISHER
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACE
MICHAEL FLANNIGAN
DIRECTOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS KENECOTT/US BORAX
LIONEL JOHNSON
VICE PRESIDENT DIRECTOR INTERNATIONAL GOVT RELATIONS
CITIGROUP
RICHARD MERSKI
VICE PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AIG
ORSON PORTER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NIKE
FRED SHEPHERD
GENERAL MANAGER VIETNAM, UNOCAL CORP
SUSAN WUNDERLY
MANAGER LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS BOEING
VIRGINIA FOOTE
PRESIDENT, U.S.-VIETNAM TRADE COUNCIL
PETERSON
UNCLASSIFIED
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