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).

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Summary
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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.

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Security Environment
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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.

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Holiday Events, Services, and Vigilance
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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.

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Trespassing Incident: Follow-Up
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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.

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EAC Conclusion
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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