ROK PROVIDES UPDATE ON TIES TO IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001545

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR CHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015
TAGS: PREL MUNC ETRD KS IR
SUBJECT: ROK PROVIDES UPDATE ON TIES TO IRAN


Classified By: A/POL Sung Y. Kim. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d).

SUMMARY
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1. (C) On May 9, Ma Young-sam, MOFAT's Director-General for
the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, requested a
meeting with A/POL to reiterate Seoul's concerns about Iran's
nuclear activities and to update the USG on two developments
in ROK-Iranian relations: First, the ROK was considering
holding a bilateral contact between Foreign Minister Ban and
his Iranian counterpart on the sidelines of the Asia
Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meeting in Qatar, May 23-24.
Second, the ROK also planned to host the 10th round of
economic talks with Iranian officials June 13-17. Ma said
that Seoul deemed these developments as separate from the
nuclear issue, would appreciate USG understanding, and would
welcome the opportunity to provide further updates. END
SUMMARY.
.
BILATERAL CONTACT AT ACD
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2. (C) In a May 9 meeting with A/POL, Ma Young-sam,
Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs
Bureau in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
emphasized that the ROK position on the Iranian nuclear issue
remained unchanged. Seoul continued to have concerns about
Iranian activities. For this reason, the ROK had refused the
Iranian government's repeated requests for a South Korean
Foreign Ministerial visit to Tehran, or an Iranian Foreign
Ministerial visit to Seoul. Aware that Foreign Minister Ban
Ki-moon planned to attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue
meeting in Doha, Qatar May 23-24, Tehran again invited FM Ban
to visit, but Seoul declined. Tehran then suggested a
bilateral contact on the sidelines of the ACD, which Seoul
thought would be appropriate.


3. (C) Ma said planning for this possible contact was still
in the preliminary stages. Should a meeting occur, he
stressed that Seoul would reiterate ROK concerns about
Iranian nuclear activities. South Korea would not deviate
from its close cooperation with the United States on the
Iranian nuclear issue. Ma said Seoul welcomed the
opportunity to answer any questions Washington might have,
and, in the spirit of close coordination, would be happy to
provide appropriate updates.
.
10TH ROUND OF BILATERAL ECONOMIC TALKS
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4. (C) Ma also said that Seoul and Tehran were planning to
hold the 10th round of their Joint Economic Commission (JEC)
June 13-17 in Korea. This was partly in response to an
Iranian request to invigorate the talks. Established over 20
years ago, the JEC was intended to meet annually but had not
convened since 2002. Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong would
head the South Korean delegation, and the Iranian Minister
for Industries and Mines would probably lead the Iranian
side. The focus would be on economic issues because Seoul
considered the nuclear issue a separate problem. The first
two days would be governmental meetings and the last two days
would be talks between private businessmen.


5. (C) Ma emphasized that Seoul understood the great
international sensitivity of the Iranian issue, which was why
it wanted to raise these developments in advance with
Washington. Seoul would appreciate USG understanding and
would welcome any comment or questions, he noted.
MINTON