IRAN AND SOLOMON ISLANDS INITIATE DIPLOMATIC CONTACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT MORESBY 000221

DEPT FOR EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/3/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR BP
SUBJECT: IRAN AND SOLOMON ISLANDS INITIATE DIPLOMATIC CONTACT

REF: PORT MORESBY 132

CLASSIFIED BY: Leslie Rowe, Ambassador, U.S. Embassy Port
Moresby, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



1. (C) SUMMARY: Iran and Solomon Islands have embarked on a
series of Foreign Minister-level meetings that could lead to the
establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Beginning with an
initial September meeting on the margins of the UNGA, the
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister journeyed to Tehran in October,
and the Iranian Foreign Minister has already received an
invitation to Honiara. The Solomon Islands Prime Minister
appears to have been only marginally involved or aware of the
initial bilateral contact. Opposition to establishing formal
ties with Iran has been vocal, coming from former Prime Minister
Sogavare and at least two provincial premiers. Part of the
motivation for relations with Iran may be a need to obtain cheap
wholesale fuel, as the Solomons logging revenues diminish and
the nation seeks new donor friends. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) News of the startup of diplomatic talks between Iran and
Solomon Islands broke while Foreign Minister William Haomae and
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Permanent
Secretary Barnabas Enga were already enroute from Honiara to
Tehran October 28. Sources at the Foreign Ministry told USG
officials that the groundwork for the Tehran visit had been laid
just prior to the September 2008 UNGA meeting, in New York,
where Solomon Islands Permanent Representative to the United
Nations Colin Beck orchestrated a meeting between his Foreign
Minister and that of Iran.


3. (C) While in New York, the Foreign Ministers of both nations
signed a memorandum of understanding that called for future
bilateral meetings at their level. A press report October 31
quotes a DFAT statement that the MOU "allows for the two
countries to explore specific cooperative arrangements,
including the possibility of formalizing diplomatic relations."
The MOU is not available publicly.


4. (C) DFAT Deputy Secretary Senda Fifi'i suggested to DCM that
Prime Minister Derek Sikua may only have had a vague idea his FM
would be meeting with Iranian officials in New York prior to the
UNGA. Significantly, it was not until the Honiara news media
publicized the FM's Tehran trip that SI Prime Minister Sikua
asked DFAT to send over a copy of the New York MOU with Iran.
The PM also instructed DFAT to delay formal release of a press
statement explaining the Solomons-Iran initiative, although some
of the substance of the draft statement did appear in a local
paper the following day. The PM also inquired how many other
South Pacific nations had formal diplomatic relations with Iran,
according to the DFAT Deputy Secretary, and received the answer
"two: Australia and New Zealand."


5. (U) The DFAT statement quoted by a newspaper added: "As a
peace loving state, we have adopted a foreign policy of 'friends
to all, enemies to none'. We are mindful that we conduct our
international affairs in an interdependent world. We rely on
each other, although there may be differences between certain
countries. But those differences should not dictate who we
interact with. We need to broaden our relations to further
increase the opportunities and benefits that we could derive
from such relations."


6. (U) A press report November 3 indicates that the SI FM has
now reciprocated with an invitation to the Iranian Foreign
Minister to visit Honiara, with anticipated discussions of
future Iranian cooperation in the areas of energy, trade,
education, and engineering know-how.


7. (U) Word of diplomatic explorations with Iran immediately
sparked political controversy. According to press reports
October 29, during a session of Parliament, Opposition Leader
(and former Prime Minister) Manasseh Sogavare condemned the SIG
for its plan to establish relations with Iran, saying he was
shocked that the SIG, which claims to believe in democracy and
good governance, would engage with a government that works
against those principles "and trains terrorists." An editorial
in the usually pro-government Solomon Star November 3, while not
ruling out the notion of diplomatic ties with Iran entirely,
does not mince words when criticizing Iran's "appalling human
rights record and treat(ing) its women with indignity and
contempt. The country and its leaders openly backed
international terrorism. Its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is
a hostile leader." At least two provincial premiers have also
publicly opposed formal diplomatic ties with Iran.


8. (C) COMMENT: Several post contacts have said that at least
part of the motivation for the SIG to establish relations with
Iran is a need to obtain cheap wholesale fuel. The SIG
reportedly established relations with Venezuela three months ago
for the same reason. With logging revenues projected to dry up
within the next five years, and the downturn in the world
economy, the SI is clearly expanding its horizons to new donor
friends who are more than willing to provide assistance. END
COMMENT.


ROWE