Images (18)
Document
| id |
id
555646154
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 18create:
Vietnam
MEMORANDUM
TO:
GENE SPERLING
KAREN TRAMONTANO
MARA RUDMAN
FROM:
DANIEL ROSEN DeR
DATE:
OCTOBER 15, 2000
RE:
VIETNAM LABOR INITIATIVES - - OPTIONS FROM SAMET
Recall that Embassy Hanoi was put off at the end of last week by the outgoing request for
country clearance sent by DUS Samet to visit Vietnam on Labor issues, because it exceeded
purposes previously discussed. After discussions with Peterson and others clarifying, we now
have oral agreement from Ambassador Peterson that Samet can go to Hanoi to discuss a labor
dialogue, Embassy Hanoi would withdraw their "non-clearance". Samet needs to tell them when
he is going to come, and Hanoi will resend an in-coming country clearance reflecting this. (If
Samet intends to change dates he will need to send a cable indicating that Monday).
Samet has provided us, at my request, a set of 3 possible outcome options for his visit, with
demonstrative examples of each from past achievements with other countries. These are:
1. Labor Dialogue: A "process" is created, which makes reference to "issues related to labor
markets and core labor standards," as with the "US-China Labor Dialogue" established
during the 1998 US-China Summit. This could specify reciprocal visits at an appropriate
level and agenda.
2. A Joint Statement: Signaling start of a process of dialogue, a joint statement could spell out
issues discussed, views, programs to be pursued and future agenda, as in the case of the April
2000 Statement with India.
3. An MOU: A more formal construct for a dialogue, establishing a hard framework for process
that would be discussed in each of the above, as in the case of the MOU of July 2000
between the US and Ukraine.
Samet's note and texts relating to each of these options are attached.
Note that in my prior memo to you on this subject I suggested the following parameters for
Samet's trip:
i.
To inform the Vietnamese as to the full range and scope of labor issues that the
US is interested in discussing with them in a joint dialogue, and illustrate the
cases of other countries with which we undertake such a dialogue and the results;
ii.
To identify with the Vietnamese that set of labor issues on which there is a
common interest in pursuing a dialogue (note that Vietnamese labor officials had
previously invited Samet to discuss many topics, so there is a starting point);
Relations
belongs_to