Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MUSCAT1957
2004-11-08 09:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

SULTAN QABOOS' MAJLIS SPEECH

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON SOCI MU 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001957 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI MU
SUBJECT: SULTAN QABOOS' MAJLIS SPEECH

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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001957

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON SOCI MU
SUBJECT: SULTAN QABOOS' MAJLIS SPEECH

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


1. (SBU) Sultan Qaboos' annual address to the Majlis Oman on
October 12 stuck to familiar themes in economic and foreign
policy. He emphasized the usual twin pillars of economic
diversification and human resource development and focused on
the newly established Ministry of Tourism as sign of
government commitment to expand that sector of the service
economy. On foreign policy, the Sultan called for progress
toward a Palestinian state, security and stability in Iraq,
the return of occupied territories, and the primacy of
justice and peaceful dialogue in international relations.
END SUMMARY.

--------------
WE ARE ONE VILLAGE
--------------


2. (U) On October 12, Sultan Qaboos presided over the
ceremonial opening session of the Majlis Oman (a joint
session of the elected Majlis al-Shura and appointed Majlis
al-Dawla). Members of the royal family, cabinet ministers,
key government figures and the diplomatic corps assembled for
the 10-minute speech that was simultaneously broadcast live
to audiences in Oman, the UAE, Egypt, Yemen, and Qatar. (Full
text in para 6.)


3. (SBU) In a preamble, the Sultan called for fearless
interaction with foreign civilizations and cultures,
comparing a planet shrunk by modern technology to "one
village" wherein no society can isolate itself from
developments around it. He advocated riding the wave of
technological innovations in other countries to achieve
"prosperity and welfare" for the Omani people.


4. (U) The middle portion of the address was devoted to
economics. The Sultan assured his audience that the
government is striving to raise the pillars of a modern state
and increase living standards, with particular focus on
diversification of income sources. He stated that the
development projects being implemented (primarily in gas-fed
industries, ports and tourism) will "undoubtedly" contribute
to diversification of the economy and provide larger
opportunities for training and employment of Omanis. The
Sultan pointed to his decision to establish a Ministry of
Tourism to manage such a "vital sector" as evidence of his
hopes for this growing sector.



5. (U) The final third of the speech concerned foreign
policy. The Sultan called for an end to "Palestinian daily
suffering" and the need to give Palestinians the opportunity
to establish an independent state. He hoped for security and
stability to prevail over Iraq, and for the recovery of Arab
territories under foreign occupation. The Sultan vowed that
Oman will "always take sides with rightness, justness, and
joint efforts... to settle international conflicts through
dialogue and negotiations."

--------------
FULL TEXT
--------------


6. (U) Dear Citizens, It gives us pleasure to speak to you
today, as we meet on the occasion of the annual session of
the Council of Oman, to reaffirm our determination and
resolution to work diligently, with full confidence in God's
will, towards broadening the horizons of a sustainable
comprehensive development. And we must bear in mind that
this will only be attainable through means of knowledge, work
and being broad-minded in keeping abreast of today,s
developments and achievements in all walks of life, while at
the same time preserving our basic principles and our firm
roots. We should be fearless when communicating with
different civilizations and cultures around the world, and in
exploring the accomplishments and developments in those
communities, in order to enhance our position in a world
which, due to the latest scientific advancements has become
smaller, like a village, where no society can isolate itself
without interacting and communicating with others; that is,
if that society seeks to achieve prosperity and welfare for
its citizens.

This was the case with our Omani ancestors who, throughout
the ages, traveled to different parts of the world. They
extended the hand of friendship to all and looked forward
with optimism to the mutual exchange of interests with other
communities without taking sides.

Dear Citizens, As you know, our goals are the implementation
of successive development plans in the Sultanate, to finish
the main infrastructure of a modern state, and to raise the
living standards in all areas of our dear homeland. This is
being accomplished in accordance with specific programs,
which have been studied very carefully, and which are aimed
at increasing the ratio of economic development with more
emphasis on the diversification of the sources of national
income and the development of human resources.

In this respect, the outcome of the policies followed by our
government to encourage all non-oil sectors is now visible,
thanks be to God. We can already see the projects which have
been completed and those which are now on-going. These will
all lead to an increase in the national income and will
provide more, and larger, opportunities for work and
training, and thus we will gain more and new skills for the
youth of Oman who are keen to take over different jobs in
various fields of employment.

We have a strong belief in the importance of the tourism
sector, since it is an emerging industry at international
level where it has become one of the main sources of revenue
in many developed countries. And because God has bestowed
our country with an environment and geographical diversity,
as well as other essential elements, that makes it a
favorable tourist destination in the region, we took the
decision to establish a Ministry of Tourism to administer
this vital and important sector. We hope that those who are
in charge of its work will take the appropriate steps to
expedite the implementation of the carefully studied
procedures and steps which are necessary to development this
sector in the near future, God willing. This should be
achieved through co-ordination with the other concerned
government departments and the private sector.

Dear Citizens, We wish to underline in this important annual
session the attention and emphasis we place on economic
development and human resources in our dear motherland. Our
foreign policy is based, as you know, on certain fundamental
principles which we have not deviated from; namely, that we
always take sides with rightness, justice, and joint efforts
with other peace-loving nations to settle international
conflicts through dialogue and negotiations so that security
and stability may prevail and all nations on earth will be
able to reap the benefits thereof. And on that basis, we
call again for the lifting of the daily suffering endured by
the Palestinian people and the need to give them the
opportunity to achieve their goals and establish an
independent state. We also hope that the Arab states, whose
lands are still under occupation, will be able to recover
them and that security and stability may prevail in Iraq and
prosperity and progress reign in our region and the whole
world. We also call for respect for international law and
the principles and conventions upon which it is based, and
for tolerance between communities and races.

May God make this country secure and stable, protect it, and
bestow on its people abundant fruits. You are the hearer,
the responder and able to do all things. End text.
BALTIMORE