BRUNEI RECEPTIVE TO NAM DEMARCHES

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000460 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS, IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016 TAGS: PHUM PREL PTER IAEA UNSC BX SUBJECT: BRUNEI RECEPTIVE TO NAM DEMARCHES REF: A. SECSTATE 149133 ¶B. SECSTATE 145242 Classified By: DCM Justin Friedman, reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) DCM delivered ref B demarche on general NAM Summit issues on Sept. 7 to Arni Abu Bakar, USA Desk Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She welcomed U.S. views in advance of the Summit. Although she could not give a formal reply to the issues raised, Abu Bakar indicated that the GoB was generally sympathetic to the U.S. positions. ¶2. (C) At that meeting, she also asked for the U.S. position following the failure of Iran to comply with UNSCR 1696. On Sept. 11, DCM followed up with Ref A points. Again, Abu Bakar could not give an official response, but she indicated that the GoB welcomed the information on U.S. views. Given the fluid state of diplomatic initiatives on Iran, Abu Bakar said she would welcome further information on how the U.S. and the UNSC would respond to Iran's not meeting the August 31st deadline. SKODON