MOSCOW, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, Friday 7 December 2012 - Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Deputy Minister of Defence, Brunei Darussalam was on a working visit to the Russian Federation. The objectives of his visit include to further strengthen the defence cooperation between both countries and discuss matters relating to the preparation of Brunei Darussalam’s chairmanship of the 2nd ADMM-Plus meeting next year.

During the visit, the Deputy Minister of Defence paid courtesy call to the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, His Excellency Anatoly I Antonov at the Russian Ministry of Defence, Moscow. The Deputy Minister was accompanied by Col (Rtd) Pg Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham bin Pg Haji Mohamad, Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), His Excellency Haji Haini bin Haji Hashim, Ambassador Negara Brunei Darussalam to the Russian Federation and other defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) officials.

During the bilateral meeting, both sides discussed the level of cooperation between the two defence establishments and reaffirmed their desires to enhance further the existing cooperation by increasing interaction between both sides. Also discussed was on the current status and progress on the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation and other related agreements between the defence establishments of Brunei Darussalam and the Russian Federation. The MOU would be a significant milestone in both parties commitment to broadening defence cooperation in mutually beneficial areas.

Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Deputy Minister of Defence also briefed the Russian side on its preparation of the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in 2013, in particular, the hosting of the 2nd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting. The Russian Federation reiterated its support for Brunei Darussalam to chair the 2nd ADMM-Plus next year and its support for ADMM-Plus initiatives. The Deputy Minister of Defence also extended Brunei Darussalam’s invitation to Russian defence companies and industries to participate in the 4th BRIDEX in Brunei Darussalam next year.

Brunei Darussalam and The Russian Federation established diplomatic relation on 1 October 1991, and have several proposed agreements to further enhance cooperation in defence.