EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/18/2004

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 002200 SIPDIS NOFORN DEPT. FOR DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/DSS/CC, DS/OSAC, CA/OCS, NEA/EX, NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 TAGS: AEMR ASEC AMGT PTER CASC KHLS MU EAC SUBJECT: EMBASSY MUSCAT EAC - 12/18/2004 REF: A. MUSCAT 2195 ¶B. MUSCAT 1954 Classified By: Ambassador Richard L. Baltimore III. Reason: 1.4(c). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee December 18 to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. Members of the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman, and concluded that there have been no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting. Accordingly, the EAC agreed that the Embassy's already heightened security posture and FPCON remain appropriate. End Summary. -------------- Security Environment -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On December 18, the Ambassador chaired a meeting of the core Emergency Action Committee ("EAC") to review the Embassy's security posture following the local weekend. The meeting opened with a discussion of the local security situation, which the EAC continued to characterize as stable. Likewise, the EAC noted no new threat reporting specific to Oman, and concurred that there have been no substantive changes in previously reported assessments of the security and threat environments. Members of the EAC cited no security incidents among their staffs or family members over the weekend, and CONS confirmed that there were no security incidents or security-related queries from the private American citizen community. -------------- Holiday Events, Services, and Vigilance -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The EAC reviewed the private and official events scheduled for the remainder of the holiday season, reporting no incidents among the events that have already taken place. RSO confirmed that a list of religious holiday services expected to have a significant American attendance will be forwarded to the Royal Oman Police (ROP) along with a request for enhanced security. Again, the Ambassador emphasized that the holiday season, and its host of events, call for members of the EAC to continue reinforcing to both their staffs and family members the need to maintain their current level of vigilance regarding personal security practices. Similarly, RSO reiterated the importance and effectiveness of immediately reporting suspicious activity or security-related incidents. -------------- Trespassing Incident: Follow-Up -------------- ¶4. (SBU) RSO provided a follow-up to reftel B, regarding the November 5, 2004 criminal trespass of an Embassy residence by an Indian national. RSO advised that on December 15, 2004, the trespasser, apprehended by the ROP following a call by the employee to Post One, was sentenced to one and a half months in prison, in addition to time served since the incident. RSO will continue pursuing facts of the case, to include motive. -------------- EAC Conclusion -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) The EAC concluded that there have been no substantive changes in the local security environment since the last meeting held on December 15 (reftel A),and that the Embassy's FPCON and already heightened security posture remain appropriate. Nonetheless, the EAC remains acutely aware of the need to monitor both the regional and local security and threat environments, and is prepared to take the necessary countermeasures should changes to either occur. AMB, A/DCM, RSO, ARSO, RMAS, P/E, CONS, MGT, DAO, OMC (USDR), and ECA (USCENTAF) participated in the meeting. BALTIMORE