FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000430


DEPT. FOR EAP/PIMBS
SINGAPORE FOR ARMA
CINCPAC FOR FPA - AMB. SALMON

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PREL BX IR PARM
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER'S VISIT TO IRAN


1. (U) BRUNEI'S FOREIGN MINISTER, PRINCE
MOHAMED BOLKIAH, VISITED IRAN APRIL 10-12. THE
APRIL 18 EDITION OF THE BORNEO BULLETIN,
DRAWING FROM A JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE VISIT, REPORTED THAT THE TWO
COUNTRIES HAD "FORTIFIED THEIR EXCELLENT
BILATERAL RELATIONS."


2. (U) THE PRESS REPORT CITED THREE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE VISIT: (A) AN AGREEME
TO EXEMPT HOLDERS OF DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL
PASSPORTS FROM VISA FOR SHORT OFFICIAL AND/OR
TRANSIT VISITS; (B) AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE TO
EXCHANGE LAND ON A RECIPROCAL BASIS FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF EMBASSIES IN EACH OTHER'S
CAPITAL; AND (C) AN OFFER BY IRAN OF
SHORT-TERM DIPLOMATIC TRAINING FOR BRUNEIAN
DIPLOMATS. A JOINT COMMISSION WILL BE
ESTABLISHED AT THE FOREIGN MINISTERS' LEVEL TO
PERIODICALLY REVIEW PROGRESS IN AREAS OF MUTUAL
INTEREST, WITH THE FIRST MEETING TO BE HELD
EARLY NEXT YEAR IN BRUNEI.


3. (C) PRINCE MOHAMED REVIEWED HIS TRIP WITH
ME APRIL 18. HE SAID HE HAD A GOOD VISIT, WITH
MOSTLY BILATERAL MATTERS DISCUSSED. HE FOUND
THE COUNTRY BEAUTIFUL, AND REMARKED ON THE
ABSENCE OF TOURISTS, WHICH HE THOUGHT COULD BE
A REVENUE-RAISER. HE REMARKED THAT THERE IS A
LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION
BETWEEN BRUNEI AND IRAN, BUT DID NOT
ELABORATE.


4. (C) TO MY QUESTION, HE CORRECTED AN
INITIAL PRESS REPORT WHICH HAD ALLEGED THAT
BRUNEIAN STUDENTS WOULD BE ATTENDING IRANIAN
UNIVERSITIES. THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THAT
IRAN HAD ONLY OFFERED SHORT-TERM COURSES FOR
BRUNEIAN DIPLOMATS. HE SAID THAT OTHER
COUNTRIES HAVE MADE SIMILAR OFFERS, AND BRUNEI
WELCOMES SUCH TRAINING. NO DECISION HAS BEEN
MADE CONCERNING ACCEPTING IRAN'S OFFER, BUT THE
MINISTER SAID HE SEES NO PROBLEMS WITH IT.


4. (C) PRINCE MOHAMED SAID THAT IRAN'S
FOREIGN MINISTER HAD RAISED THE QUESTION OF
EXTENSION OF THE NPT DURING THEIR MEETING.
MINISTER VELYATI HAD TOLD HIM THAT HE IS
CONFIDENT THAT THE NPT WILL BE EXTENDED. I
ASKED WHETHER IRAN HAD INDICATED WHETHER IT
WOULD SUPPORT INDEFINITE EXTENSION. THE
MINISTER REPLIED THAT VELYATI HAD SAID THAT
IRAN WILL LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE DEBATE TO SEE
HOW IT PROCEEDS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.


5. (C) COMMENT: BRUNEI AND IRAN CONTINUE TO
APPEAR TO THIS EMBASSY AS STRANGE BEDFELLOWS,
GIVEN IRAN'S ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST
REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP
CONTINUES TO DEVELOP. THE SULTAN AND PRESIDENT
RAFSANJANI HAVE EXCHANGED STATE VISITS, AND
FOREIGN MINISTER VALYATI WILL VISIT BRUNEI NEXT
YEAR TO HEAD THE IRANIAN TEAM FOR THE FIRST
JOINT COMMISSION MEETING. WE KNOW THAT BRUNEI
KEEPS A CAREFUL EYE ON THE IRANIAN EMBASSY'S
ACTIVITIES, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT OFFICIAL VISITS
NOTWITHSTANDING, BRUNEI REMAINS WARY OF IRAN'S
ULTIMATE INTENTIONS. CONSISTENT WITH BRUNEI'S
FOREIGN POLICY APPROACH OF "FRIEND OF ALL,
ENEMY OF NONE", HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THAT THE
RELATIONSHIP WILL CONTINUE GRADUALLY, AND
CAREFULLY, TO EXPAND. END COMMENT


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