MUARA, Saturday, 23 March 2013 – French Navy Frigate, FNS VENDEMIAIRE arrived safely at the Royal Brunei Navy Muara Naval Base this morning. The contingent is led by the commanding officer of FNS VENDEMIAIRE, Commander Joffrey Guerry. Present to receive the ship to the port of call was Rear Admiral Anne Cullere, Joint Commander Armed Forces in French Polynesia and the Commander of the French Maritime Forces in the Pacific. Also present was the Commanding Officer of KDB DARULEHSAN from the Royal Brunei Navy, Lt Col (L) Shamsul Bahreen bin Taweh. FNS VENDEMIAIRE will be in the country from 23 March to 27 March 2013.

Rear Admiral Anne Cullere and Commander Joffrey Guerry made Courtersy Calls to several of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces top Officers and Commanders which includes Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy. Several talking points were on the agenda but more focus was put in the discussion of maritime concerns. Rear Admiral Anne Cullere also took the opportunity to made courtesy calls to Col (Rtd) Pg Dato Paduka Haji Azmansham
bin Pg Haji Mohamad, Permanent Secretary of Policy and Development, Joint Force Commander, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Abd Aziz bin Mohd Tamit, Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Yussof bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force and Col (L) Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar, Director of Intelligence.

As part of their visit, Rear Admiral Anne Cullere and Commander Joffrey Guerry also made several visits around Brunei Darussalam including places of huge cultural significance to the Bruneian People like the Royal Regallia and  Brunei Musuem. A sports interaction was also organised between the officers of FNS VENDEMIAIRE and officer from the Royal Brunei Navy where a friendly match of football was played. Although a friendly match, the two teams was played in full competitive spirit but with great sportsmanship attitude.

This visit is aimed at continuing the long-established bilateral relations. Areas of military cooperation between both countries were also explored which was aimed to strengthen the friendship and camaraderie between both countries.