OMAN: SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 002177 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, NEA/IPA, NEA/ARPI, NEA/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2014 TAGS: KWBG EAID PREL XF MU SUBJECT: OMAN: SUPPORT FOR PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY REF: A. STATE 264697 ¶B. STATE 236229 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) On December 12, visiting NEA DAS Dibble, accompanied by the Ambassador and Pol/E Chief (notetaker),paid a call on Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi (YBA) to discuss a number of bilateral and regional issues. Delivering the substance of the Secretary's oral messages on supporting the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Middle East peace (reftels),DAS Dibble highlighted the USG's recent USD 20 million financial assistance package to the PA announced in Oslo, underscoring the need to exploit current opportunities to promote peace. Providing aid directly to the PA, he noted, was a break from past USG practice. ¶2. (C) YBA responded that the Sultanate continues to offer financial support to Palestine only through charitable organizations, saying it does not yet trust donating directly to the PA. He offered no details on current funding levels. The Minister revealed, however, that interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will visit Oman as part of a swing through the region on December 18. BALTIMORE