Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BANDARSERIBEGAWAN205
2009-08-28 03:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Cable title:  

SENATOR BILL NELSON WELL RECEIVED VISIT TO BRUNEI

Tags:  PREL BX PINR 
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VZCZCXYZ0012
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBD #0205/01 2400329
ZNY CCCCC ZZH(CCY ADXA6567E MSI4902 540A)
P 280329Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4629
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000205 

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (REMOVE ADDRESSEE)
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT OF EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG
HQ PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR BILL NELSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2019
TAGS: PREL BX PINR PREL
SUBJECT: SENATOR BILL NELSON WELL RECEIVED VISIT TO BRUNEI

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) John W. McIntyre for Reaso
ns 1.4(b/d)

SUMMARY
---------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000205

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (REMOVE ADDRESSEE)
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT OF EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG
HQ PLEASE PASS TO SENATOR BILL NELSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2019
TAGS: PREL BX PINR PREL
SUBJECT: SENATOR BILL NELSON WELL RECEIVED VISIT TO BRUNEI

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) John W. McIntyre for Reaso
ns 1.4(b/d)

SUMMARY
--------------

1. (C) Senator Bill Nelson's well received visit to Brunei
focused on numerous key USG policy goals and objectives.
During wide ranging meetings with the Sultan of Brunei, as
well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, Pehin
Lim Jock Seng, the Senator received assurances that Brunei
respects religious freedom, values the USG role in Asia,
and is committed to environmental protection. In addition,
the Sultan noted that radical Islam has no place in Brunei.
The Senator and Sultan also discussed the role of the US
military in the region and the Sultan noted one of his sons
will be applying to attend West Point. The Sultan also was
appreciative of the Senator's offer to visit his home state
of Florida as well as the Kennedy Space Center. Pehin Lim
offered the Senator his insights into North Korea's
continued isolation but need for engagement with the U.S.
Pehin Lim also noted that USG engagement with Burma was
welcomed by the Government of Brunei (GoB). Both agreed
that Indonesia continues to play a crucial role in
Southeast Asia but faces many obstacles. Settling border
disputes with Malaysia to encourage additional oil and
natural gas development was also discussed. Senator Nelson
also met with the Minister, Pehin Yayha, and Deputy
Minister, Dato Hamdillah, of the Ministry of Industry and
Primary Resources (MIPR) to discuss environmental
protection and eco-tourism development. Brunei believes it
offers the natural resources to assist in carbon trading
but does not have the technical resources at this time. In
addition, while trying to develop their eco-tourism
industry, Brunei lacks the critical tourism
infrastructure Senator Nelson noted that Brunei has all
the resources raging for high quality resorts to financial
means to follow through both on environmental protection
and eco-tourism. Brunei has not received a CODEL n almost
twelve years. Senator Nelson's visit wil greatly
enhane U.S. Embassy-Brunei's diplomatc efforts. End

Summary

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
--------------

2. (C) Senator Bill Nelson (D-Floida) spoke frankly with
the Sultan of Brunei regrding issues of religious freedom.
As noted in tis year's State Department International
Religious FreQ'EKQ --------------

3. (C) The Sultan and Senator agreed that combating
religious extremism and noting the similarity between the
world's major religions are key elements in promoting
tolerance and in combating terrorism.
The Sultan, as well as Pehin
Lim, were quick to point out that radical forms of Islam
have no place in Brunei. The Government of Brunei (GoB)
seeks to prevent the spread of radical Islam through state
control of mosques and approval of all sermons. Radicalism
both in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Middle East are a
concern for Brunei, as noted by Pehin Lim. Brunei views
itself as model of peaceful coexistence between religions
with an Islamic state.
USG ROLE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
--------------

4. (C) Both the Sultan and Pehin Lim said the US plays a
positive role in Asia, especially Southeast Asia. In
addition, both were pleased by the growing engagement in
Asia by the Obama administration. President Obama's family
ties to Indonesia were noted
as a positive and both agreed that Southeast Asia
continues to play critical role in the fight against
terrorism as well as global economic recovery. The Sultan
highlighted the importance that Brunei places on ASEAN and
the substantial US interactions with Southeast Asia's
regional organizations. Increasing US engagement with
Southeast Asia and Brunei through trade agreements was
noted by the Sultan as a key element to sustained economic
recovery. Both also noted that the U.S. continues to serve
as a counterbalance to China's expanding role in the
region.

BURMA AND NORTH KOREA
--------------

5. (C) During Senator Nelson's meeting with Pehin Lim, the
subject of US engagement with Burma and North Korea was
raised. Pehin Lim said the recent visit of U.S. Senator
Jim Webb (D-Virginia) to Burma as well as Secretary
Clinton's offer of increased USG engagement with the
Burmese under the appropriate circumstances.
Pehin
Lim did stress that the GoB and many Southeast Asian
nations believe engagement with Burma, versus isolation, is
the key to forward progress. A similar thought is also
held regarding USG engagement with North Korea. Pehin Lim
described in detail his trip to North Korea and noted it
was a "true hermit kingdom." He did express the hope that
North Korea would fully engage in the Six Party talks and
that the era of North Korean brinkmanship would fade.

INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA
--------------

6. (C) Senator Nelson asked both the Sultan and Pehin Lim
about relations between Indonesia and Brunei as well as
Brunei's closest neighbor, Malaysia. Both agreed relations
with Indonesia were good, with Pehin Lim noting that
Indonesia has a number of challenges, both political and
economic before it. He noted President Yudhoyono is faced
with significant issues, especially in the areas of
counter-terrorism and economic development. Pehin Lim
stated that Indonesia plays a critical role in Southeast
Asia and the Muslim world. The Sultan noted that relations
with Malaysia are excellent and improving, especially as
border disputes are being resolved and more cross border
investments is occurring. (NOTE: Neither the Sultan nor
Pehin Lim would give specifics on how exactly the various
border disputes have been resolved. End Note.) Investment
by Malaysia companies into new oil and gas development on
formerly disputed land and sea blocks was noted, but not
confirmed, as a possible means to encourage additional
investment and revenue generation for both Brunei and
Malaysia.

CONSERVATION AND ECO-TOURISM
--------------
7 (SBU) During his meeting with the Sultan, as well as the
Minister (Pehin Yayha) and Deputy Minister (Dato Hamdillah)
of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR),
the Senator commented on Brunei's impressive conservation
efforts. The Sultan highlighted that Brunei wishes to
conserve and use wisely its natural resources.
Pehin
Yayha highlighted the vast amounts of tropical forests that
Brunei is conserving and described in detail the dramatic
difference between Brunei and Malaysia in this regard. He
noted that the border between the two countries can easily
be seen from above due the drastic deforestation on the
Malaysia side. Pehin Yahya and Dato Hamdillah stated that
Brunei believes it is a potential partner for carbon
trading but lack the technical expertise at this time to
move forward. Brunei is working to preserve not only
tropical rain forests but also peat moss swamps as
potential carbon sinks. Both noted that China could be a
potential partner in this regard. Both the Sultan and Pehin
Yayha said that conservation should go hand in hand with
developing eco-tourism Pehin Yahya and Dato Hamdillah did
say that the eco-tourism infrastructure is still
developing.

MILITARY TO MILITARY TIES
--------------

8. (C) Senator Nelson complimented the Sultan not only on a
successful international military show (BRIDEX) but also on
the successful completion of another series of U.S. and
Brunei military to military exercises. The Sultan noted he
is pleased with the strong ties that Brunei's military has
with the U.S. Military. He also highlighted his visit to
the U.S. Pacific Areas Command (PACOM).
The Sultan added that he
is happy that Prince Mateen has shown an interest in
attending West Point and that he looks forward to
accompanying his son to West Point for enrollment.

BRUNEI'S TIES TO FLORIDA
--------------

9. (SBU) Senator Nelson noted Brunei's ties to
Florida, especially the Vero Beach area with the recent
purchase of Piper Aircraft by the Imprimus investment firm.
Piper is now wholly owned by Imprimus. Imprimus received
significant funding from both the Brunei Ministry of
Finance and Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). Piper's new
president, John Becker, reported to the Senator that
Imprimus is a long term investor but also is looking to
expand Piper's market into Asia. The Sultan noted he was
happy that Brunei had such significant investments in
Florida businesses and noted that his enthusiasm for the
aviation industry.


COMMENT
--------------

10. (C) Without a CODEL visit in over twelve years, the GoB
was truly appreciative of Senator Nelson's visit.
The meetings with his Majesty and Pehin Lim were cordial,
substantive, and much longer than is the norm in Brunei.
Senator Nelson's wealth of experience, knowledge
and openness during discussions significantly helps to
advance U.S. Embassy-Brunei's diplomatic agenda. We were
very pleased and fortunate that the CODEL chose to come to
Brunei and we look forward to their return in the future.

CODEL Nelson cleared this cable.

TODD